Shortage of LDS Syringes?…KDCA "Secured 130% of Vaccine Supply for the First Half of the Year"

"LDS Syringe Production and Distribution Process Experiences 1-2 Day Delivery Delays to Some Health Centers"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government has refuted claims that there is a shortage of low dead space (LDS) syringes at COVID-19 vaccination sites, stating that "25.79 million units have been secured through contracts with manufacturers in the first half of the year." It explained that there were delays of one or two days in deliveries to some public health centers during the production and distribution of LDS syringes.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 26th, the vaccine supply volume for the first half of the year is 18.38 million doses, and 25.79 million LDS syringes have been secured. The contracted syringe quantities for vaccination are 46,524,600 LDS syringes and 40 million regular syringes. The KDCA plans to contract additional LDS syringes in the second half of the year.

The KDCA stated, "As of the 25th, LDS syringes are being supplied at 120% relative to vaccine delivery volumes to prepare for the implementation of COVID-19 vaccinations. However, due to the sudden increase in demand, there have been cases where manufacturers delayed deliveries to some public health centers by one to two days during production and distribution, but this will be promptly resolved to ensure that vaccinations for those aged 65 and older, starting on the 27th, proceed without issues."

Ko Jae-young, Crisis Communication Team Leader of the KDCA Central Disease Control Headquarters, said during a back briefing that "currently, 130% of the planned vaccination volume for the first half has been secured."

Hong Jung-ik, Vaccination Management Team Leader at the KDCA, explained, "LDS syringes are basically used at centers administering the Pfizer vaccine, and it is not mandatory to use LDS syringes for the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. However, there have been reports that using LDS syringes early on allows for 11 to 12 vaccinations, so distribution is currently focused on LDS syringes."

He added, "Currently, when reserving or distributing vaccines, the standard is 10 people for AZ and 6 people for Pfizer, and if additional doses for 1 to 2 more people can be administered using LDS syringes, the decision is left to the field."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.