Lost Technology, or are we just "Lost"
Jan 24, 2021 13:29:05 #
Over the many years of technologic gains it seems we have lost a good bit of our edge. Trying to give millions of Americans a injection of the Covid Vaccine, one by one seems a bit antiquated. I remember standing in line with hundreds of sailors getting our vaccinations at the inductions station, when a corpsman placed gun type injector against my arm, and shot the vaccine in my arms. What has happened to this technology? That gun system injected not a 100, but a 1000 or so per hour. We were constantly prodded to move along faster, and not stall the line. With that equipment we could keep the line moving throughout the day, with no delay. Make the paperwork available in advance, and filled out before you arrive at the site. Those who need to fill out the papers, have a desk available, but the line goes on. Pop, Pop, goes the gun, 24-7 until all are vaccinated. I'm sure all Viet Nam Vets remember those guns.
Surfwooder
Surfwooder
Jan 24, 2021 13:33:06 #
I remember those guns quite well and have often wonder why they are no longer used.
Jan 24, 2021 13:38:04 #
Jan 24, 2021 13:40:15 #
Bill Emmett wrote:
Over the many years of technologic gains it seems ... (show quote)
Vaccine disbursement requirements not compatible with the gun due to vaccine storage requirements?
Jan 24, 2021 13:42:48 #
SAVH
Loc: La Jolla, CA
I certainly remember the shot guns as well - but certainly not fondly. If you flinched during the shot, it could tear the flesh. I always opted for the normal syringe shots when it was an option.
Scotty
Scotty
Jan 24, 2021 13:48:31 #
Jan 24, 2021 13:54:05 #
Bill Emmett wrote:
Over the many years of technologic gains it seems ... (show quote)
I remember that from when I was ten🤔
Jan 24, 2021 13:58:52 #
Wyantry
Loc: SW Colorado
The ‘air injector’ guns were indeed efficient for mass-vaccination scenarios. They were discontinued due to possible person-to-person contamination. (Aids, HIV).
See the Mayo Clinic article:
https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Ask-the-Mayo-Clinic-Whatever-happened-to-jet-1293851.php
It would seem decontamination (alcohol sterilization?) between injections could be easily accomplished.
PRESS. SHOOT. WIPE. REPEAT.
See the Mayo Clinic article:
https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Ask-the-Mayo-Clinic-Whatever-happened-to-jet-1293851.php
It would seem decontamination (alcohol sterilization?) between injections could be easily accomplished.
PRESS. SHOOT. WIPE. REPEAT.
Jan 24, 2021 14:42:32 #
Alcohol is a disinfectant and not recommended by the CDC for sterilization of equipment.
Around here the problem is getting the vaccine, not injecting it.
Around here the problem is getting the vaccine, not injecting it.
Jan 24, 2021 17:20:31 #
David Martin
Loc: Cary, NC
Wyantry wrote:
The ‘air injector’ guns were indeed efficient for mass-vaccination scenarios. They were discontinued due to possible person-to-person contamination. (Aids, HIV).
See the Mayo Clinic article:
https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Ask-the-Mayo-Clinic-Whatever-happened-to-jet-1293851.php
It would seem decontamination (alcohol sterilization?) between injections could be easily accomplished.
PRESS. SHOOT. WIPE. REPEAT.
See the Mayo Clinic article:
https://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/health/article/Ask-the-Mayo-Clinic-Whatever-happened-to-jet-1293851.php
It would seem decontamination (alcohol sterilization?) between injections could be easily accomplished.
PRESS. SHOOT. WIPE. REPEAT.
To be an effective disinfectant, the alcohol would need to be allowed to dry completely before re-use. Assuming the alcohol actually reached all the nooks and crannies in the first place, leaving no viable blood droplets behind from the prior patient. From the Mayo Clinic article you quoted:
Quote:
"In some cases, however, jet injectors could bring blood or other body fluids to the surface of the skin while the vaccine was being administered. Those fluids could contaminate the injector, creating the possibility that viruses could be transmitted to another person being vaccinated with the same device."
Jan 24, 2021 20:33:00 #
Wyantry
Loc: SW Colorado
I referenced the article, which explained the possible contamination problem.
The surface of the injection gun was (and is) essentially a micro-perforated ceramic disk held by a metal ring. This could be easily sterilized in a very short period of time, even if complete air-drying is a requirement.
A simple redesign could make the gun more sterilizable, or a “blowback barrier / membrane” could be placed on the skin and the air-gun injection made through that.
The simplest solution would be to have more than one gun, and alternate guns while sterilization could be effected.
The vaccination ‘throughput’ could be at least quadrupled, if historical (military) vaccination records are an indication.
The surface of the injection gun was (and is) essentially a micro-perforated ceramic disk held by a metal ring. This could be easily sterilized in a very short period of time, even if complete air-drying is a requirement.
A simple redesign could make the gun more sterilizable, or a “blowback barrier / membrane” could be placed on the skin and the air-gun injection made through that.
The simplest solution would be to have more than one gun, and alternate guns while sterilization could be effected.
The vaccination ‘throughput’ could be at least quadrupled, if historical (military) vaccination records are an indication.
Jan 24, 2021 21:57:29 #
Jan 25, 2021 07:47:02 #
whfowle
Loc: Tampa first, now Albuquerque
I too, remember the injection guns from my service days, not fondly! Glad they are gone. I never flinched but the medic often was too much in a hurry to be bothered to hold the gun still while delivering the shot. I usually ended up with a bloody sore arm. Never had any problems with needles. I do remember the medics doubling and tripling up the shots by holding them between their fingers and jamming them in at the same time.
Jan 25, 2021 08:27:30 #
I may be mistaken, but I believe the air guns placed the vaccine just under the skin rather than deeply into muscle tissue. From the Covid vaccine shots I've seen on the news, it appears that they are deeply injected and this might be part of why the guns are no longer used. I also think person to person contamination may be a big issue as well. Overall, I think the real problem is that they are being too picky about who gets the vaccine first when they should be injecting anyone that shows up until they are out of the current shipment. If vaccine distribution then becomes an issue we can deal with it, but holding back the vaccine to make sure they control who gets it first is just wrong. We all need the vaccine and as soon as possible!
Jan 25, 2021 08:27:44 #
I flinched and the blood poured down my arm.
It did not hurt so I decided to have some fun.
I wiped the blood on both sides of my hand, holding my arm and moaning I walked past the "incoming" line....
More than few swooned......
It did not hurt so I decided to have some fun.
I wiped the blood on both sides of my hand, holding my arm and moaning I walked past the "incoming" line....
More than few swooned......
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