In the global vaccination race against Covid-19, a few milliliters of the product can change everything.
Thanks to a new so-called third-generation syringe, which is starting to be delivered to the territory, some vaccination centers are now able to administer seven doses of the Pfizer vaccine with a single vial, compared to six so far.
“It's even very easy,” observes a professional from the Saint-Côme polyclinic in Compiègne (Oise), where this new material produced by a Chinese company began to be used at the end of last week.
In the corridors of the establishment, between caregivers, these syringes are now called "The Seven Doses".
"Imagine the number of people who can be vaccinated in addition"
“But there is nothing official, it is something that we have observed in use, we know that we can do it, appreciates Estelle Doat, pharmacist in the private clinic.
This is good news, we were very happy because it allowed us to vaccinate more health professionals than what was planned.
We may have the know-how, everything is linked to the material.
"
“Syringes like these, I had never seen, abounds another nurse who also works in the vaccination center open to residents, still in Compiègne, in the district of Victoire.
It's even easier than making 6 with the 6-dose syringes.
Imagine how many more people can be vaccinated.
"
A small revolution whereas the administration of a seventh dose for a vial was considered until now technically too complex.
The European Medicines Agency still considers that each vial can produce only six.
“Seven doses is imaginable on paper but infeasible in practice.
There are always drops on the wall or which remain in addition in the syringe ”, thus indicated to the Parisian
Laurent Fignon, doctor at the geriatrics center of the Cannes hospital center (Alpes-Maritimes), in January.
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This remaining amount is what healthcare professionals call “dead volume”.
That is to say the part of the product that remains in the syringe and in the needle at the end of the pressure.
With this new “super syringe”, the needle of which is crimped, that is to say that the whole is in one piece, there is no longer any presence of air.
This helps reduce the "dead space" a bit further after the syringe plunger is fully depressed.
And therefore to take more product.
“We must in any case reassure people, supports the nurse Compiégnois.
The quantity and quality of this seventh dose are exactly the same as for the first six.
"
"We can do it but there is no systematization"
In Compiègne, the Saint-Côme polyclinic received 264 syringes of this type (six per bottle) in one week, distributed by the “pivot” establishment of the department, the Beauvais hospital center.
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Despite the hope raised by this possible seventh dose per vial, caution remains in order.
“We realized that we could do it but there is no systematization, warns Vincent Vessel, the director of the polyclinic compiégnoise.
Especially since we are dependent on deliveries.
We do not know if we will have this syringe model next week.
“Contacted this Monday, the Directorate General of Health (DGS) was unable to answer our questions.