PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is carrying out the procurement of “low dead-volume” syringes needed to administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine injections with local and foreign companies, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (pic).
He said this type of syringe was needed and appropriate for the vaccine because it could avoid wastage and maximise the number of doses to be given, especially in the first phase of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, which will start on Feb 26.
“The vaccine should be administered carefully because we need to avoid wastage and this syringe also meets the specifications requested by Pfizer, ” he told reporters after receiving a contribution of 1,000,000 units of personal protective equipment from Eu Smart Solution Holdings Sdn Bhd, here, yesterday.
Low dead-volume syringes generally refer to zero-waste syringes, thus ensuring the recipient of the injection receives the entire dose of the vaccine.
Last Saturday, Dr Adham was reported to have said his ministry needed 12 million low dead-volume syringes to inject 20% of the country’s population or six million recipients in the first phase of the vaccination programme.
Dr Adham said the low dead-volume syringes would be placed at all vaccination sites that have been identified throughout the country.
“For the vaccine, we need to have complete equipment and I am confident with all the preparations available, we will be able to administer the vaccine carefully which in turn can protect the people from Covid-19, ” he said.
Dr Adham said 6,542,418 Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction and Antigen Rapid Test
Kit screening tests were conducted from Jan 24,2020 until last Satur-day.
“The tests conducted have helped the ministry detect positive cases quickly and enabled rapid contact tracing.
“I request those who have had close contact with positive cases to provide complete information to the District Health Office to enable action to be carried out on the transmission of Covid-19, ” he added. — Bernama
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