Photo/Illutration A typical syringe used for COVID-19 vaccinations, bottom, and an insulin syringe that Uji-Tokushukai Medical Center in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, uses (Ryosuke Nonaka)

The government “will not recommend” that insulin syringes for diabetes patients be used for vaccinations against COVID-19, vaccination minister Taro Kono said on March 11.

Kono, speaking to reporters, addressed mounting concerns from diabetes patients over the limited stock of insulin syringes and the possibility they would be used for COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Uji-Tokushukai Medical Center in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, on March 8 announced that seven doses of the precious vaccine could be extracted from one vial using an insulin syringe, instead of five with typical syringes or six with special syringes. 

“We should never let there be a shortage of insulin syringes that are needed for their initial purpose,” Kono said, responding to a question.

But he also said, “If there are extra insulin syringes, it won’t be any problem to use them for the vaccinations.”

Kono had said that vaccinations with insulin syringes were “more than welcome,” at a news conference on March 9.

Kono also said on March 11 that the government will not procure insulin syringes but will speed up securing syringes with which six doses can be taken from one vial of the vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc., currently in use in Japan.

Medical institutions can still decide whether to use insulin syringes to administer COVID-19 vaccines in certain situations.

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