On January 7th 2021 I started an interesting journey at the vaccination centre in Derby Arena. I was allocated to work at the 'pharmacy' room looking after the vaccines, consumables and the procedures that were changing daily. On the first day I questioned the logic behind the dispensing process' of the Pfizer and Astra Zeneca where we had to place the vials into the grip seal bag before placing the bag in a Tupperware box.
I found this process unsafe as we were told to keep the vials upright and avoid them falling over which was difficult when vials were inside the grip seal bags. Additionally the grip seal bags were discarded after each use. There was an issue of infection prevention and safety when I asked to re-use them rather than discard every time. I questioned the need for the grip seal bags and was told to come up with a better solution and bear in mind national guidelines.
I started creating a tray to hold the vials upright and to make the process of dispensing and transportation safer and quicker. I contacted SPS about the need for the grip seal bags and was advised that as long as the vials are transported safely, it doesn't have to be placed in the bag.
The project progressed from a tray made out of a visor, through to the plexi glass tray and then to the final product that was printed on a 3D printer. The trays are now being used in Derby Arena and for the enhanced services transporting Pfizer vials. We have stopped using the grip seal bags at the end of March 2021 reducing the plastic waste that would have been produced otheriwise.
