Low dead space syringes for COVID-19 vaccine. (Image via The Economic Times)

Syringes shortage, fewer Japanese people to get Pfizer shot

It is unlikely that Japan will be able to use Pfizer's vaccine for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) according to its initial target. It is due to the shortage of special syringes, able to extract the dose from the vials. The news was confirmed on Tuesday by Japan's Health Minister, Norihisa Tamura.

Already under review by the Health Ministry, the Pfizer vaccine is scheduled to be approved on 15 February. On the other hand, the British-Swedish pharmaceutical, AstraZeneca, revealed that they already filed a request to the Health Ministry to approve their vaccine.

Moreover, the Japanese Government will start vaccinating the health workers on 17 February while conducting a study to see the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. If proven useful, then the vaccination will be expanded to 36 million people, aged 65 and older in April.

Last month, Japan revealed that it had obtained doses enough for 72 million people, with an estimation that each Pfizer's vial would provide six shots. However, as the low dead space syringes are lacking, the amount of vaccine also decreased.

Eventually, the vial ends up providing only five shots and enough only for 60 million people. Therefore, the Japanese Government already asked the medical equipment manufacturers to also help in producing the special syringes.

The Chief Cabinet Secretary, Katsunobu Kato, stated that if the syringes are insufficient, then the sixth shot cannot be extracted and therefore, will be discarded. Komeito party advised the Japanese Government that they should have made the estimation based on five shots when obtaining doses enough for 72 million.

Not only Japan but also, last month, the United States (U.S) and the European Union (EU) countries also had to struggle to obtain enough low dead space syringes to get more doses of Pfizer's vaccine. The condition forced the manufacturers to increase their production capacity.

As Japan did not change the number of doses it had ordered from Pfizer, the number of doses to be delivered, initially 120 million, will be revised instead. Currently, the Japanese Government is looking forward to discussing with Pfizer the number of doses it can send to Japan.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Z574QI