20% more Pfizer vaccine doses using a low dead space syringe –FDA

There could be as much as 20 percent more doses in each Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine vial if a low dead space syringe is used to administer it.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras,” the space between the plunger and the syringe’s needle is called the dead space.

Ordinary syringes normally have a dead space where the remaining vaccine is stored. However, with a low dead space syringe, a lower volume of the vaccine will remain due to the lack of space between the plunger and the needle.

“’Yung vial ng vaccine nitong Pfizer, pagdating kailangan mo siya i-dilute eh. Lalagyan mo siya ngayon ng parang swero para ma-dilute siya. At kung talagang matipid na matipid ka, maari siyang ma-extend from five doses to six doses,” FDA director-general Eric Domingo said.

Due to this, the 40 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine may be increased to 48 million doses.

“Ang required kasi per vaccination is 0.3 ml. So kung talagang makukuha mo lahat, every dop nung vaccine, kaya siyang i-extend, kaya siyang i-extend na imbis na five doses ‘yung isang vial, maari siyang maging anim,” Domingo said.

While the Department of Health had not yet placed orders for low dead space syringes, the DOH said it would consider it.

“Kailangan po natin i-weigh kung ano ‘yung magiging implikasyon doon sa vaccination program. Marami po bang papalitan at marami po bang oras ang igu-gulgol para pagaralan po ulit ng ating mga health care workers,” Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained. — DVM, GMA News