The public must understand the complex logistics in administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The vaccines are kept at minus 80°C at the warehouse. Before use, they are thawed and this takes several hours.

Once thawed, they should be administered within five days

The thawed vaccines, kept at 2°C to 8°C, are then transported to individual vaccination centres the day before the vaccination.

On the day of the vaccination, the thawed vaccines are mixed with 1.8ml of normal saline.

The mixed vaccine must be administered within six hours.

Each person receives 0.3ml of intramuscular injection from the mixed vaccines. The leftover, which is less than 0.3ml, is discarded.

Much has to be done to ensure the vaccination process is smooth.

A team of administrators has to check and confirm the identity of the person getting the injection before and after the vaccination.

After the jab, the person has to rest and be monitored for complications for at least 30 minutes to ensure that there are no serious adverse effects. 

Experts estimate that the risk of the recipient getting anaphylaxis, a very serious form of drug allergy, is very low — at 11.1 for every one million vaccinations. 

Compared with, say, penicillin-related anaphylaxis, which stands at 500 for every million, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe.

Even then, a resuscitation team has to be available at the vaccination centre to perform resuscitation if needed.

As each vial of vaccine can be given to five people, people getting their shots will be allotted into groups of five, so as not to waste the vaccines.

Should any registered person fail to turn up, the mixed vaccines will be wasted.

To avoid wastage, there are “reserve” individuals around. If the person who registered fails to turn up, someone who is on “reserve” will receive the vaccination

At the vaccination centre where I had my injection, senior management staff members such as nursing officers and managers stand by as the “reserves”. 

They will eventually receive the vaccines when everyone has received theirs.

The public must view this vaccination as an important appointment and avoid cancelling or changing the appointment without ample notice.

Companies, whether private or public, should give ample time of allowance for their employees to travel to and from a vaccination centre.

We are one of the first countries in the world to roll out the Covid-19 vaccination for its residents. Many foreigners I know are envious of our privilege. Let’s all work together to ensure our precious resource is not wasted.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Dr Desmond Wai is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist in private practice. 

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