UNICEF will pre-place more than 500 million syringes by the end of the year in preparation for the final COVID-19 vaccination

• UNICEF is preparing to lead the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the world’s largest and fastest surgery of its kind

• Already the world’s largest single vaccine purchaser, UNICEF immunizes almost half of the world’s children with deadly diseases.
• Once the COVID-19 vaccine is found, pre-positioning more than 500 million syringes will allow you to quickly track your vaccination program.

New York / Sydney, October 19, 2020 – UNICEF has begun as the world waits for the COVID-19 vaccine Build the foundation To deliver the final vaccine quickly, safely and efficiently by purchasing and pre-placement syringes and other necessary equipment.

As soon as the COVID-19 vaccine emerges successfully from trials, is approved and recommended for use, the world needs as many syringes as the vaccine dose. To begin preparations, UNICEF will stockpile 520 million syringes in its warehouse this year. This is part of a larger plan of 1 billion syringes by 2021 to ensure initial supply and ensure that syringes arrive before the COVID-19 vaccine.

Assuming there is a sufficient dose of COVID-19 vaccine during 2021, UNICEF will add to the 620 million syringes purchased for other vaccination programs for other diseases such as measles. We predict that we will provide more than 100 billion syringes to support the COVID-19 vaccination effort. Typhoid fever etc.

“Vaccination of COVID-19 worldwide is one of the largest efforts in human history, and we need to act as quickly as possible to produce the vaccine,” said UNICEF Secretary-General Henrietta Fore. .. “To move faster later, we need to move faster now. By the end of the year, more than 500 million syringes will be pre-deployed and deployed in a fast and cost-effective way. Enough syringe to orbit the world 1.5 times. ”

In line with years of cooperation between the two partners, Gavi will refund UNICEF for the procurement of syringes and safes. COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX Facility) Other vaccination programs funded by Gavi, if needed.

In addition to syringes, UNICEF has purchased 5 million safety boxes that allow medical facility personnel to safely dispose of used syringes and needles, reducing the risk of needlestick injuries and blood infections. All safety boxes have 100 syringes. Therefore, UNICEF “bundles” the syringe into the safety deposit box to ensure that it has enough safety deposit box to work with the syringe.

The shelf life of injection devices such as syringes and safety boxes is 5 years. These items are bulky and must be shipped by sea, which also increases lead times for such equipment. vaccineHeat sensitive, is usually transported faster by air freight. In addition to saving time Early purchase of syringes and safes also reduces market pressure and anticipates potential early spikes in demand when vaccines become available.

UNICEF is already the primary procurement coordinator for the vaccine alliance Gavi World’s Largest Single Vaccine Buyer, Procures more than 2 billion vaccines annually on behalf of nearly 100 countries for routine immunization and outbreak response. Every year UNICEF offers vaccines We procure and supply approximately 600-800 million syringes for routine immunization programs for nearly half of the world’s children. COVID-19 vaccines can be three or four times the number, depending on the number of COVID-19 vaccines ultimately produced and secured by UNICEF.

“For over 20 years, Gavi has helped an additional 822 million children from the world’s most vulnerable countries access important, life-saving vaccines,” said Gavi’s CEO. One Seth Berkley said. “This would not have been possible without a partnership with UNICEF. This same collaboration is essential to working with Gavi’s COVAX facility.”

Make sure the vaccine is in transit and Store at the proper temperatureUNICEF, along with WHO, is planning existing cold chain equipment and storage capacity (in the private and public sectors) and is preparing the guidance needed for each country to vaccinate.

“We are doing everything we can to provide these essential supplies efficiently, effectively and at the right temperature.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, with the support of Gavi and in cooperation with WHO, UNICEF is upgrading Existing cold chain equipment throughout the country’s healthcare facility to ensure that the vaccine remains safe and effective throughout the journey. Since 2017, more than 40,000 cold chain refrigerators, including solar refrigerators, have been installed primarily throughout Africa’s healthcare facilities.

In most countries, UNICEF is promoting solar technology to help countries maintain their supply chains. In South SudanUNICEF, the world’s least electrified country, where temperatures often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, has installed solar refrigerators in more than 700 medical facilities. This is about 50% of domestic medical facilities.

######

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gemma Hill, + 61 432 233 675, [email protected]

Support content:

Download photo Broll hereincluding Video of a special syringe The world’s largest humanitarian warehouse in Copenhagen operated by UNICEF from South Sudan Syringe And Solar refrigerator Used in health centers.