Millions of Japanese Won't  Get Pfizer Vaccine Due to Shortage of "Syringes"

The British newspaper "The Guardian" said that millions of people in Japan are at risk of not getting the Coronavirus vaccine produced by Pfizer, the US giant drug maker, as planned due to the lack of syringes intended to withdraw the last remaining dose in the vaccine bottles that carry 6 doses.

This news could frustrate the vaccination program in the country, as the number of people who get the vaccine will decrease significantly.

According to the Japanese Health Minister Norihisa Tamura, the syringes used in Japan are unable to extract the sixth and final dose from every vial the US pharmaceutical company makes.

Japan has received 144 million injections of the Pfizer vaccine - enough for 72 million people - assuming each vial contains six doses.

According to Pfizer, each recipient requires two doses, three weeks apart, to increase the level of protection.

But the shortage of specialized syringes with narrow pistons that can squeeze out any remaining vaccine - means that vaccinators in Japan will have to use essentially standard syringes capable of extracting only five doses per bottle, or enough for 60 million people.

"The syringes used in Japan can only withdraw five doses," Tamura was quoted by Kyodo News. "We will use all of the syringes that we have that can draw six doses, but of course they will not be sufficient as more doses are given."

The Japanese government is asking medical equipment manufacturers to increase the production of specialty syringes.