Thailand develops robotic system to squeeze out more vaccine doses

[Jonathan Fairfield]

A vaccine extraction machine called AutoVacc, designed by the Chulalongkorn University's Biomedical Engineering Research Center to extract extra doses out of AstraZeneca vaccine vials, is seen in Bangkok, Thailand August 23, 2021. Picture taken August 23, 2021. REUTERS/Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

By Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - As Thailand struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, researchers in the country have developed a machine to draw out COVID-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies.

 

Using a robotic arm, the "AutoVacc" system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial, according to researchers at Chulalongkorn University, who made the machine that has been used at the university's vaccination centre since Monday.

 

That is up 20% from the standard 10 doses drawn manually, they said. The machine only works on AstraZeneca multi-dose vials currently and labels show each vial can provide 10 to 11 doses.

 

"The machine guarantees with accuracy that we can gain an extra 20% from each vaccine vial - from 10 to 12 doses," said Juthamas Ratanavaraporn, the lead researcher of the team at the university's Biomedical Engineering Research Center.    "The extra 20% that we get means that if we have AstraZeneca for 1 million people, this machine can increase the number of doses to 1.2 million people," said Juthamas.

 

While some health workers using low dead space syringes (LDSS) that aim to reduce wastage can draw up to 12 doses per vial, it requires manpower and a high level of skill, she said.

 

"This could drain a lot of the health workers' energy. They would have to do this every day for many months," Juthamas said.

Thailand had kept COVID-19 largely under control for much of the pandemic, but more virulent variants like Delta have sent cases and deaths soaring since April, ramping up pressure on authorities to increase the pace of vaccinations.

 

So far, around 9% of Thailand's population of more than 66 million have been fully vaccinated, with the rollout hindered by lower-than-anticipated vaccine supplies.

 

The research team say they should be able to produce 20 more AutoVacc units within three or four months, but that government funds and support would be needed to expand across the country.

 

The prototype machine costs 2.5 million baht ($76,243), including other materials like syringes, said Juthamas, adding that while they were open to export opportunities, that was something for the future.

 

They also plan to make similar machines to use with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, she added.

 

Juthamas said the machine was aimed at removing burdens on health workers. Thailand has reported around 1.1 million COVID-19 infections and 10,085 deaths in total, pushing parts of the health system to the brink.

 

"When the health workers are too tired, there are also chances of human error, so we should let the machines work on this," she said.

 

($1 = 32.7900 baht)

 

(Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)

 

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[fangless]

3 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

and optimise lower-than-expected supplies.

Lower than expected by whom?  Certainly not the Thai public that's for sure!

[RotBenz8888]

7 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Using a robotic arm, the "AutoVacc" system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial,

With some further improvement, I'm sure it could draw 24 doses from a vial? 

[fangless]

2 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

With some further improvement, I'm sure it could draw 24 doses from a vial? 

And sell each one at twice the price to cover the costs of the machine!

[Bluebottle64]

They've been secretly perfecting this technology for years in the bars at Nana ????

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

optimise lower-than-expected supplies.

But those supplies are in excess of the quantities ordered by the health minister.

[jojothai]

The headline is dreadful.
Glad I am already vaccinated, and not going to get anything potentially "squeezed" into me from a robotic arm.

Edited August 25, 2021 by jojothai
word missing

[RichardColeman]

8 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

That is up 20% from the standard 10 doses drawn manually, they said. The machine only works on AstraZeneca multi-dose vials currently and labels show each vial can provide 10 to 11 doses.

Maybe I'm just being stupid, but why not just increase the vial size ? It's a bit like making a machine to open your coke tins rather than buy a large bottle

[Gulfsailor]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Maybe I'm just being stupid, but why not just increase the vial size ? It's a bit like making a machine to open your coke tins rather than buy a large bottle

It’s a good question, and there are several reasons why it’s in such a small bottle. 

 

[Geoffggi]

I'll bet they are now working on a new model to extract even more money from Farangs .....................LOL

 

[Nip]

12 hours ago, Bluebottle64 said:

They've been secretly perfecting this technology for years in the bars at Nana ????

The Covid 19 flick of the wrist. I think I'd prefer the Full Monty? 

[10baht]

Now this is the way to do it.

https://www.visitguam.com/airvv/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4sWg0LXN8gIVrp9LBR354g6wEAEYASAAEgIfnfD_BwE

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

"The machine guarantees with accuracy that we can gain an extra 20% from each vaccine vial - from 10 to 12 doses," said Juthamas Ratanavaraporn, the lead researcher of the team at the university's Biomedical Engineering Research Center.    "The extra 20% that we get means that if we have AstraZeneca for 1 million people, this machine can increase the number of doses to 1.2 million people," said Juthamas

Granny could do the same... and cheaper

[Swampy999]

Lower than expected supplies? Would that be due to lower than required orders?

[Kiwisailor]

Why do the words "bomb detector" keep running through my mind?

[RocketDog]

13 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

With some further improvement, I'm sure it could draw 24 doses from a vial? 

Research will continue once the Thai Moon base is established.

[thailand49]

If true this is actually good news since the production of AZ is so far behind!????????

[Chongalulu]

The cat’s out of the bag on the technology. It’s tightly wound elastic bands ,the skill set of which is inherent to the Thai population! ???? 

[khaowong1]

56 minutes ago, 10baht said:

Now this is the way to do it.

https://www.visitguam.com/airvv/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4sWg0LXN8gIVrp9LBR354g6wEAEYASAAEgIfnfD_BwE

Oh hell yes.  Luxury while getting jabbed. 

Edited August 26, 2021 by khaowong1

[Cake Monster]

Several thought sprung to mind when I read this Article.

The very first though was " why would a large Pharma Company give away 20 % extra with every Vial of Vaccine they sell "

The answer to that is ... They would not, the product is too valuable, and Pharma are notorious for wringing every cent from their products.

The second thought was " these Vials of vaccine are not filled by hand using a jug and funnel, they are filled on extremely accurate and calibrated Computerised Machines which will fill to a pre determined level, and accurate to within maybe about 2 % ( max overfill ) of Volume for the recommended doses of Vaccine.

Then I thought. If the Vial holds the recommended dosage for 10 Shots how do you get 12 Shots from the same volume

There are two ways essentially

The first is to " water down " the contents 

The second is to " short dose " the first 10 shots.

I think I will stay well clear of any AZ in the future if I get any choice at all.

[csmith]

[JBChiangRai]

This is nothing to be proud of, people are not getting the manufacturer’s recommended dose.

 

Only in Thailand.

[cnx101]

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

This is nothing to be proud of, people are not getting the manufacturer’s recommended dose.

 

Only in Thailand.

Any easy way to make or save money 

[Guderian]

Sooner or later they'll work out that you can actually get 20 doses out of a 10-dose vial if you dilute it with the same volume of saline, an innovation developed in Germany, lol.

[Will B Good]

Their first prototype......

[mtls2005]

Surely this type of machine exists elsewhere?

 

https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/syringe-filling-machine.html

[MrJ2U]

Probably be easier to just turn the bottle upsidedown.

 

I can see a million dollars procurement for robot bottle empteirs.

[hioctane]

2 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

Several thought sprung to mind when I read this Article.

The very first though was " why would a large Pharma Company give away 20 % extra with every Vial of Vaccine they sell "

The answer to that is ... They would not, the product is too valuable, and Pharma are notorious for wringing every cent from their products.

The second thought was " these Vials of vaccine are not filled by hand using a jug and funnel, they are filled on extremely accurate and calibrated Computerised Machines which will fill to a pre determined level, and accurate to within maybe about 2 % ( max overfill ) of Volume for the recommended doses of Vaccine.

Then I thought. If the Vial holds the recommended dosage for 10 Shots how do you get 12 Shots from the same volume

There are two ways essentially

The first is to " water down " the contents 

The second is to " short dose " the first 10 shots.

I think I will stay well clear of any AZ in the future if I get any choice at all.

They do “give away” up to 20%. The amount in each vial is not precise. They also add a little extra to account for human error.  The person filling the syringe can’t pull an exact dosage. They rather pull a little extra rather than not enough. If you fill exactly 10 doses,  they will likey only be able to get 9 doses.

 

In the US, they were initially tossing away any more than the “recommended” doses from each vial before they were given the OK to use them.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/cuomo-says-moderna-vaccine-vials-hold-extra-doses-2020-12%3Famp

Edited August 26, 2021 by hioctane
added link

[Emdog]

Thailand seems to be run by children, so wondered what level/age? So dipped into some Piaget developmental stages:

"Conservation is the understanding that something stays the same in quantity even though its appearance changes. ... Conservation of number (see video below) develops soon after this. Piaget (1954b) set out a row of counters in front of the child and asked her/him to make another row the same as the first one." https://www.simplypsychology.org/concrete-operational.html

[BobinBKK]

Me thinks this is their real method of extraction!