Japan's Terumo says makes syringe to draw 7 doses from Pfizer vaccine vials
Japan's Terumo Corp said on Tuesday it has developed a new syringe that can get seven doses out of each vial of COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer Inc, at least one more than accessible with existing syringes. The health ministry approved the design on Friday, and Terumo will begin production at the end of March, a Terumo spokesman told Reuters.
- Country:
- Japan
Japan's Terumo Corp said on Tuesday it has developed a new syringe that can get seven doses out of each vial of COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer Inc, at least one more than accessible with existing syringes.
The health ministry approved the design on Friday, and Terumo will begin production at the end of March, a Terumo spokesman told Reuters. The Kyodo News agency, which first reported the development, said Terumo is aiming to make 20 million units this year. The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech is shipped in vials initially indicated to hold five doses. Six doses can be drawn with special syringes, call low dead space, which minimizes the amount of vaccine left in the syringe after use.
Japan began its COVID-19 inoculation campaign last month, using Pfizer's vaccine. Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the effort, said on Friday that some shots may go to waste amid a shortage of specialty syringes.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
Biden and Japan's Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia
Joe Biden hosts Japan's PM at White House, in strong message to China over policies in Indo-Pacific
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to speak to Congress as doubts linger over American global leadership
Health News Roundup: Pfizer RSV shot meets goals in trial of high-risk adults under age 60; Cuba says drug use on the rise, especially among youth and more
US, Japan signal support for Texas high-speed rail plan