Safe injections
D. Pfeifer
Needle in vaccine vial
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Injections are one of the most common health-care procedures. Five to ten percent of some 16 billion injections administered worldwide each year are given for immunization.
Unsafe injections or unsafe practices in relation to immunization are not only responsible for cases of hepatitis B and C, HIV, and other serious and potentially lethal side effects suffered by vaccine recipients, but may also pose an occupational hazard to health providers and an environmental hazard to communities. Furthermore, unsafe injection practices can seriously impede the progress made by immunization programmes, and have a substantial effect on global immunization coverage.
WHO's priority in this area is to promote safe injection practices. Apart from the introduction of auto-disble syringes, and safe and cost-effective sharps waste management solutions, technical assistance is provided to countries to assess the quality of immunization services and to develop and implement national safe injection policies and operational plans.
In 1999, WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA issued a joint statement on the use of auto-disable syringes in immunization services.
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WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA joint statement on the use of auto-disable syringes in immunization services (pdf 41kb)
The statement advocates the adoption by all countries of auto-disable syringes for immunization by the end of 2003.
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Organizations which have endorsed the 1999 WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA joint statement on the use of auto-disable syringes in immunization services
Publications
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Documentation on policy and guidelines, training and monitoring; articles
Links
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WHO injection safety
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Immunization devices prequalified under the WHO Performance, Quality, Safety (PQS) system (see E8)
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World Bank injection safety
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PATH - Injection safety
WHO activities
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Assessments; GAVI support; supply of AD syringes and safety boxes; Performance, Quality and Safety (PQS) system; AD syringes meeting WHO specifications; new injection technologies; Focus Project
Last update : 4 April 2006
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