Syringe size and supply issues continue to waste COVID-19 vaccine doses in United States

Moutinho, Sofia

doi:10.1126/science.abi6931

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…The vials are still also required for current health care and vaccines. Vaccine manufacturers usually overfill their vials to take daily waste lightly into account when dosages are made and given [ 45 ]. The Pfizer bottle was initially destined for five (0.3 mL) doses or a total of 1.5 mL.…”

Section: Vaccination Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Modern vials for 10 mL, 5 mL total, are typically 6 mL of a jab. The excess vaccine, which takes up to two extra jabs in Pfizer's five-dose vial and Moderna's ten-dose vials, would save lives as the pandemic still kills many in the world every day [ 45 ]. Despite the fear of vaccination success guarantee, manufacturers also want to secure their proportion of glass vials.…”

Section: Vaccination Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is specially made for “low dead volume” syringes in both sizes and fed into the needle to remove much of this trapped liquid. The use of these massive and monstrous 3 mL syringes with a high dead-space device is essential in order to achieve the exact dosage [ 45 ]. The output capacity of the syringe manufacturing process is 150 kg/h (5 mL syringe) with an annual production of 15 × 10 6 syringes with 215 kWh energy consumption.…”

Section: Vaccination Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

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COVID-19 pandemics Stage II – Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination

Klemeš

Jiang

Fan

et al. 2021

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

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The COVID-19 pandemic developed the severest public health event in recent history. The first stage for defence has already been documented. This paper moves forward to contribute to the second stage for offensive by assessing the energy and environmental impacts related to vaccination. The vaccination campaign is a multidisciplinary topic incorporating policies, population behaviour, planning, manufacturing, materials supporting, cold-chain logistics and waste treatment. The vaccination for pandemic control in the current phase is prioritised over other decisions, including energy and environmental issues. This study documents that vaccination should be implemented in maximum sustainable ways. The energy and related emissions of a single vaccination are not massive; however, the vast numbers related to the worldwide production, logistics, disinfection, implementation and waste treatment are reaching significant figures. The preliminary assessment indicates that the energy is at the scale of ~1.08 × 10 10 kWh and related emissions of ~5.13 × 10 12 gCO 2eq when embedding for the envisaged 1.56 × 10 10 vaccine doses. The cold supply chain is estimated to constitute 69.8% of energy consumption of the vaccination life cycle, with an interval of 26–99% depending on haul distance. A sustainable supply chain model that responds to an emergency arrangement, considering equality as well, should be emphasised to mitigate vaccination's environmental footprint. This effort plays a critical role in preparing for future pandemics, both environmentally and socially. Research in exploring sustainable single-use or reusable materials is also suggested to be a part of the plans. Diversified options could offer higher flexibility in mitigating environmental footprint even during the emergency and minimise the potential impact of material disruption or dependency.

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Section: Vaccination Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vaccination Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Vaccination Processmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

COVID-19 pandemics Stage II – Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination

Klemeš

Jiang

Fan

et al. 2021

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These situations will only worsen and increase the 4E pressures while the global immunisation campaigns continue, possibly until 2024 [ 22 ] or even longer, considering virus variants [ 23 ], possible vaccine failure [ 24 ], and the strategy of third-dose vaccination following the initial vaccination campaigns for enhanced protection in some countries [ 25 ]. Some of the notable 4E pressures of the vaccination campaign are: The initial design of syringe size causes the wastage of two extra doses per vial [ 26 ], i.e. about 16.7% (Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines) to 28.6% (Moderna vaccines codenamed mRNA-1273) wastage at the early stage of vaccination campaigns.…”

Section: Observations On Vaccination Mismanagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The initial design of syringe size causes the wastage of two extra doses per vial [ 26 ], i.e. about 16.7% (Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines) to 28.6% (Moderna vaccines codenamed mRNA-1273) wastage at the early stage of vaccination campaigns.…”

Section: Observations On Vaccination Mismanagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy, environmental, economic and social equity (4E) pressures of COVID-19 vaccination mismanagement: A global perspective

Jiang

Klemeš

Fan

et al. 2021

Energy

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Vaccination now offers a way to resolve the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is critical to recognise the full energy, environmental, economic and social equity (4E) impacts of the vaccination life cycle. The full 4E impacts include the design and trials, order management, material preparation, manufacturing, cold chain logistics, low-temperature storage, crowd management and end-of-life waste management. A life cycle perspective is necessary for sustainable vaccination management because a prolonged immunisation campaign for COVID-19 is likely. The impacts are geographically dispersed across sectors and regions, creating real and virtual 4E footprints that occur at different timescales. Decision-makers in industry and governments have to act, unify, resolve, and work together to implement more sustainable COVID-19 vaccination management globally and locally to minimise the 4E footprints. Potential practices include using renewable energy in production, storage, transportation and waste treatment, using better product design for packaging, using the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data analytics for better logistics, using real-time database management for better tracking of deliveries and public vaccination programmes, and using coordination platforms for more equitable vaccine access. These practices raise global challenges but suggest solutions with a 4E perspective, which could mitigate the impacts of global vaccination campaigns and prepare sustainably for future pandemics and global warming.

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Status of COVID-19 Pandemic Before the Administration of Vaccine

Thomas

2021

Methods in Molecular Biology

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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the disease COVID-19 that has decimated the health and economy of our planet. The virus causes the disease not only in people but also in companion and wild animals. As yet we do not know why the virus is highly successful in causing the pandemic within 3 months of its first report. Lack of a voice on how to handle the pandemic impacted the management of the disease globally. Publication of the importance of masks and social distancing in preprint servers reduced the spread of the disease and deaths associated with it. Very few countries have invested in science and research and development and that has impacted the development of therapies for the pandemic. Though vaccination against COVID-19 started in December 2020, slower rate of immunizations has resulted in rapid spread of the mutant strains of SARS-CoV-2. Lack of transparency and accountability coupled with anergic leadership was responsible for the high incidence of disease and death associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Syringe size and supply issues continue to waste COVID-19 vaccine doses in United States

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

COVID-19 pandemics Stage II – Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination

COVID-19 pandemics Stage II – Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination

Energy, environmental, economic and social equity (4E) pressures of COVID-19 vaccination mismanagement: A global perspective

Status of COVID-19 Pandemic Before the Administration of Vaccine

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