Vital vials for vaccines

Abstract

Researchers around the world are edging closer to a safe and effective vaccine to halt the COVID-19 pandemic, with . Once one or more vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease, gain regulatory approval, the next step is delivering the product to health-care providers. They, in turn, will inoculate people. That distribution will require packaging. Specifically, this means strong vials that protect their contents and won’t chemically react with the vaccine solution. On a global scale, this adds up to a dizzying number of vials—hundreds of millions of small, cylindrical bottles that each will hold at least one dose of vaccine. Earlier this year, worry spread that a shortage of these small bottles would hamper distribution of the vaccine. Since then, makers of pharmaceutical vials around the world have announced they are stepping up their production. Contrary to some earlier reports, companies contacted by C&EN say they and