As we get closer and closer to developing a safe and effective vaccine for the current COVID-19 epidemic, another national crisis is amidst. The shortage of specialized medical grade glass containers could delay the response to delivering the vaccine.
The task of delivering a vaccine to the majority of the world’s population is so vast that global production of pharmaceutical vials needs to be ramped up by 20% within two years, a job the AMA says requires immediate preparation. Under the best of circumstances, a 20% increase in two years will create shocks to the supply chain.
Plastic Vials
The shortage in glass has been an ongoing issue. With all the usual consumers of recyclable glass (restaurants and bars) being closed due to the pandemic, the large volume of glass supplies needed are simply not available to meet demand. With the need for glass going up and the supply of glass going down, the requirement for an alternative material to produce the needed vials is desperate.
Highly engineered thermoplastic materials such as Fluoropolymer’s are a great, economical alternative material to medical grade glass. Their inherent properties of transparency, compatibility with organic compounds and unmatched durability make them ideal for the medical industry. And most important, there is plenty of material. Thermoplastic vials can be produced and delivered as demand increases with minimal lead-time.
Performance Plastics, located in Cincinnati, OH has over 30 years’ experience in molding fluoropolymers for the medical industry. We have developed proprietary processes enabling the tooling and injection of small, thin-walled, complex medical consumables.
For more information and solutions, please contact Rich Reed, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at 513-321-8404 or email [email protected].
