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The coronavirus has left the whole world exhausted and depressed, and the global economy has taken more than one shot to the gut. Almost a year ago, healthcare research groups across several countries joined hands to help to make the coronavirus vaccine a reality. Scientists worked around the clock to put a stop to the virus that paralyzed the world for over a year and a half. The developed world’s economies have faced many of the same, acute challenges that have broken down healthcare systems in economically developing nations. Millions of people have already received the vaccine. However, according to the latest information released by the CDC and regulatory bodies, there might be a shortage of syringes needed to administer the dosage.
Illinois, America is one such example of a state that has witnessed a dire shortage of syringes. Healthcare providers across towns in the Midwestern State have long been ringing the alarm bells for the lack of syringes. Governmental authorities claim that this phenomenon is limited to small pockets throughout the country. However, there has been a recent clamor among many independent healthcare research groups that suggest the problem is far more widespread.
The Covid-19 vaccine is less than 0.5 ml. So, it doesn’t actually require the use of large gauge syringes for administering the vaccine to a patient. Having a 0.5 ml dose of the vaccine has been very effective for patients worldwide. That means that healthcare providers only need a 1 ml dead space syringe to secure the dose between the syringe hub and needle.
According to many medical manufacturers of syringes and needles, the shortage originates in the form of depleted raw materials overseas. Factories have maintained the capacity to manufacture syringes, but the raw materials – often sourced from remote Chinese conglomerates – are nowhere to be found. To some extent, the problem also lies in healthcare markets throughout the world. The Demand Shock resulting from the sudden, pressing need for more protective apparel and vaccine-related products has led many US companies to issue backorders for particular types and sizes of syringes. Most companies have reported that the price of a 1 ml syringe has increased more than three-fold over the past year. We can only guess what type of long-term strain this adds to healthcare economy at large.
However, many medical suppliers are hopeful that eventually the pendulum will swing back towards equilibrium as uncertainty across markets decreases. As a rule of thumb, uncertainty breeds caution. Companies are often hesitant to outlay cash for the fabrication of products when they can’t accurately predict demand down the road. Often, medical devices that are manufactured abroad take at least one month by ocean freight to reach American markets – so a three to four month predictive window that includes manufacturing and shipping is crucial in terms of planning production. As long as there is consistent demand into the foreseeable future, companies can safely invest in the production of syringes and needles. Most customers and medical institutions have long decried the incredible price hikes that they witnessed for medical devices during the early Covid Era. While a significant part of this price increase was indeed a result of gaps in the supply line for raw materials, the rapid fluctuation and increase in prices has also been in part due to the difficulty manufacturers have faced in planning for the future.
The collection of companies working diligently to meet the increased demand for syringes range from the multimillion-dollar behemoths, like Medline, to up and coming innovative startups, like Endure Industries. Yet despite their best efforts, there is still work to be done. Medline is one of six companies that was awarded a multi-million-dollar contract for manufacturing safety needles and syringes for the US economy. Similar questions have been asked of the Executive Directors at the helm of the company. How will we make up for the lack of syringes? Could it slow down the vaccination process? In recently issued statements, the company has stated that they don’t see this problem persisting for too long into the future – a statement that is notably in line with governmental authorities.
As the Delta Variant sweeps across the country, several previously unvaccinated populations are rushing to vaccination centers throughout the country. But what happens when the vaccines are sitting on the shelf but Healthcare Providers have no way to administer them. Hopefully the syringe shortage corrects itself soon.
