28 October 2021
By Sara Jerving
The World Health Organization has issued a warning over a looming syringe shortage that could threaten the already struggling efforts to vaccinate populations across the African continent for COVID-19.
... UNICEF estimates a shortfall of up to 2.2 billion auto-disable syringes, which automatically lock after use to prevent reuse, next year. This type of syringe is disproportionately used in low- and middle-income countries.
The shortage hasn’t yet hit countries in a severe way. Most countries have received syringes bundled with shipments of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX and UNICEF. But this is only because the African continent has not received large amounts of vaccines. Less than 6% of the continent’s population is vaccinated.
By Sara Jerving
The World Health Organization has issued a warning over a looming syringe shortage that could threaten the already struggling efforts to vaccinate populations across the African continent for COVID-19.
... UNICEF estimates a shortfall of up to 2.2 billion auto-disable syringes, which automatically lock after use to prevent reuse, next year. This type of syringe is disproportionately used in low- and middle-income countries.
The shortage hasn’t yet hit countries in a severe way. Most countries have received syringes bundled with shipments of COVID-19 vaccines from COVAX and UNICEF. But this is only because the African continent has not received large amounts of vaccines. Less than 6% of the continent’s population is vaccinated.