Kenya Unable to Administer Pfizer Vaccines Donated by the US Due to Lack of Special Syringes
Nearly two weeks after receiving the first consignment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Kenya is yet to roll out the jab.
A senior official at the Health Ministry told Nation that they are unable to administer the vaccine due to a lack of special syringes.
While ruling out the option of buying the low dead space syringes, the ministry said it is relying on the US government to send a batch to be able to administer the jab.
"We were expecting the US to send us the syringes that are supposed to be used to administer the doses we received but they did not, and now we are waiting, as they had promised to do so," the official said.
Dr. Andrew Mulwa, the director for Medical Services, Preventive and Promotive Health at the ministry said they are hopeful the US will donate the special syringes before the expiry of the vaccines in December.
"The syringes and the doses were packed in two separate consignments, I think they are coming but I am not sure when," he said.
Unlike the regular syringe, a low dead space syringe has less space left between the needle and the plunger when it is fully pushed in. It also has a detachable needle.
The Pfizer vaccine normally contains five doses per vial, but a low dead space syringe, which expels more medicine from the space between a syringe's needle and plunger, can eke out six doses per vial.
Given that the Pfizer vaccine is precious, many countries are trying to get six doses per vial, hence vaccinate more people.
The syringes are a specialty product for which demand is usually low, but the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine set off a scramble for the syringes.
Kenya received the first consignment of 795,000 Pfizer doses on September 17th while the second batch of 210,600 doses arrive on Tuesday.
Comments (7)
Wow, wow, wow!!! All needles are not the same size! Did any body (medical personnel) think about this small issue??
Hi John,
When you mention "detachable", do you really mean "retractable"?
In the US, many of the low-dead-space needles are retractable, not detachable. I wouldn't be surprised if it's these that are soon to arrive in Kenya. Any clarification would be great.
Of course the medicine is going to expire or sold in TZ
Wow. I am sure that making these syringes is not Rocket science. Does the Ministry have to wait for a donation, instead of just making them themselves? It is like giving someone in need some food, and then they start asking the donor to put the food in their mouth. I am sure the equipment used to make these syringes is the same one used to make the regular ones. It is just that the needle is shorter, and thinner
nonsense you can give the vaccine with any syringe but when you use a low dead end syringe 💉 you can squeeze an extra dose from the vial.
Only in Kenya. They can’t even do anything for themselves. What about all the loans you’ve borrowed, use it to make syringes. It’s like going to someone’s house and they offer you cereal but don’t have milk.
Serious stuff. Waiting donations mentality by a high ranking govt official is too shameful esp after covid billionaires amassed loot from coffers