Roll of five 0.5ml B-D `Soloshot' Syringes. Manufactured by Becton Dickinson & Co, New Jersey, USA and supplied by the UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1994 (see note)

These syringes were approved for use in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) run by UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Fund) and the WHO (World Health Organisation). Launched in 1974, the EPI aims to vaccinate the world’s children against the biggest childhood killers, such as measles.

Developed and made by Becton Dickinson & Co, the ‘SoloShot’ syringe was designed to prevent accidental reuse and the dangers of cross infection as well as overdoses. Once the syringe is filled with 0.5 ml of vaccine, a click is heard and the plunger cannot be pulled back anymore. Once the plunger has been pressed all the way down to administer the vaccine, it cannot be moved back up the syringe, preventing re-use.