Syringe, vial makers ramp up capacity amid Covid-19 vaccine hopes

The first of a two-part series looks at the ways in which the supply chain for the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine is being bolstered

If the Covid-19 vaccine is ready for roll-out in early 2021, it will give rise to a huge demand for syringes and glass vials. And while manufacturers say they are ramping up capacities, there may be a supply crunch in the second half of next year, as international supply commitments, too, pick up.

India has an annual capacity to make about 1.08 billion 0.5 ml AD (auto-disable, or those that are automatically disabled after a single use) syringes. The three key manufacturers, Hindustan Syringes and Medical Device (720 million), ISCON Surgicals (180 million), and Becton Dickinson (180 million), are planning