Researchers in Thailand developed a machine to dispense doses of the COVID-19 vaccine more efficiently. This robotic system is also being used to optimize lower-than-expected vaccine supplies.
According to researchers at Chulalongkorn University who developed a robotic arm called AutoVacc, the system can take 12 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from the bottle.
The researchers said this figure was up 20% from 10 standard doses taken manually. The machine only works on AstraZeneca's multi-dose bottles at this time, and the label indicates each bottle can provide 10 to 11 doses. AutoVacc is currently being used at the vaccination center of Chulalongkorn University.
"The machine guarantees with accuracy that we can get an additional 20% from each bottle of vaccine (from 10 to 12 doses). From the extra 20% we get, it means we have AstraZeneca which was for 1 million people, increased to 1.2 million people," said Juthamas Ratanavaraporn, the team's lead researcher at Chulalongkorn University's Biomedical Engineering Research Center.
Indeed, some health workers use low dead space syringes (LDSS) to reduce wastage. They can take up to 12 doses per bottle. But it requires a high level of manpower and skill.
"This can drain a lot of health workers. They have to do it every day for months," said Juthamas.
autovacc Robot Autoacc is developed by Chulalongkorn University. Photo: Reuters
Just like other countries in the world, Thailand is working hard to control the COVID-19 pandemic. But more virulent variants, such as Delta, have caused a spike in cases and deaths in the country since April. This certainly increases the pressure on the authorities to increase the speed of vaccination.
So far, about 9% of Thailand's population of over 66 million have been fully vaccinated. The vaccination program is experiencing lower vaccine supply constraints than previously anticipated.
The research team says they should be able to produce 20 more AutoVacc units in three or four months, but funding and government support will be needed to expand vaccination across the country.
The prototype machine costs 2.5 million baht (approximately Rp. 1.1 billion) and includes other materials such as syringes. Juthamas added that they are open to export opportunities in the future.
They also plan to build a similar machine for use with Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N) and Moderna (MRNA.O) vaccines. Juthamas said the machine aims to ease the burden on health workers.
"If the health workers are too tired, the possibility of human error is also there, so it's better if the machine does this," he said.
