- WHO expert Lisa Hedman said that by 2022, the world may face a shortage of up to 2 billion vaccine syringes.
- The shortage of a large number of syringes may delay vaccination of children against common diseases.
- 6.8 billion doses of vaccine are injected every year in the world, and 6 billion syringes are produced every year.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that by 2022, there may be a global shortage of 100 to 2 billion syringes for the Covid-19 vaccine, which may delay the vaccination of children around the world or encourage poorer countries to be unsafe Repeatedly use the needle.
Lisa Hedman, WHO’s senior consultant for access to medicines and healthcare products, said that manufacturers around the world need to find a way to increase the output of disposable syringes. Reporting for the United Nations news.
“When you consider the number of injections given in response to the pandemic, we cannot afford shortcuts, shortages or any place where patients and medical staff cannot be guaranteed complete safety,” she told reporters at a UN briefing in Geneva .
Hedman said syringes are more prone to shipping delays because they take up 10 times the vaccine dose.
Hedman said that at present, about 6.8 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine are injected every year in countries around the world, which is dwarfed by the global annual manufacturing capacity of 6 billion syringes.
If the world continues to operate as usual, the deficit may expand to 2 billion syringes next year. Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, WHO experts said that if this problem is not resolved, the shortage of syringes may affect routine injections for common diseases, especially children.
According to a UN report, poorer countries may also try to reuse needles. She said that even if the needles have been disinfected, this is dangerous because harmful bacteria may remain on the syringes.
UNICEF also warns of shortage of syringes In late October, It is estimated that the world may face a shortage of 2.2 billion syringes next year.
It suggests that countries can take some measures to avoid shortages, such as prioritizing the transportation of syringes as the government handles vaccine doses, and stopping the hoarding of vaccine equipment.
WHO has repeatedly called on rich countries to support Vaccine work in poorer countries, Emphasizing how the availability of more vaccines worldwide will end the pandemic faster and reduce the risk of new Covid-19 variants.
