Blue tray made by Warwick SASco Ltd., of the type used during COVID-19 vaccination work at University Hospital Coventry, England, 2020-2021.

In each blue tray would be everything needed for one person’s COVID-19 vaccination. This included a prepared syringe with a vaccine, alcohol swabs to clean the vaccine site, a paster or cotton wool ball and tape for afterwards. After use, the trays would be cleaned and ready for reuse.

Vaccines needed to be frozen and/or refrigerated and could only be used for a limited time after being prepared. Knowing the number of people attending appointments was crucial so vaccine waste was kept as low as possible.

The UK COVID-19 vaccination programme started on 8 December 2020 with Matron May Parsons, administering then 90 year old Margaret Keenan’s first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at University Coventry Hospital. A nearby company Warwick SASco made and initially delivered over 40,000 trays to vaccine centres.

The roll out of the vaccines in the United Kingdom is based on priority groups. In December 2020, COVID-19 vaccines were first offered to residents in care homes for older adults and their carers, people aged over 80, and frontline health and social care workers. The remaining population is offered the vaccine according to age and existing health conditions that make them more susceptible to COVID-19. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advise on the priority list and the length between doses (between 3 and twelve weeks).

Arranging the items needed for vaccination including syringes, alcohol swabs, trays, sharps bins, and fridges is a huge logistical and manufacturing effort to ensure people have access to vaccines.