It was when nurse Susanne Pettersson watched the news that both Denmark and Norway managed to get seven vaccination doses out of an ampoule that she decided to find out more.
- I contacted the university hospital in Ålborg and received information and instructions on how we should do.
The information was sent on to Region Sörmland, which approved that we would try this, says Susanne Pettersson.
Seven doses in no more than every other case
Each ampoule gives in theory seven doses, but in practice it is usually about six doses.
Vårdcentralen Smeden in Eskilstuna, which now works systematically according to instructions from Denmark, receives seven doses in no more than every other ampoule.
- We try to get every single dose we can get and give in turn according to the Public Health Agency's order.
It feels very good.
Every single dose that is extra in addition to the six means something to someone, says Karin Bogen, CEO of the health center.
All vaccinators in the region can test
The secret behind the Danish model to get seven doses is that you should use a thinner needle when you pull up the vaccine and that the needle that is inserted into the ampoule should remain until all doses have been drawn up.
Although the health center Smeden is the only one in Sörmland that follows this particular method, other vaccinators in the county have also managed to get seven doses on certain occasions.
- There are some challenges with the technology and if you do not do it in exactly the right way and with the right equipment, there is a risk that it will be too little per dose.
All vaccinators in the region can try to get seven doses, but this is not a general recommendation, says Magnus Johansson, responsible for the vaccination program in Region Sörmland.