Thailand develops robotic system to up Covid vaccine doses

AutoVacc' draws out extra 20% from vials to optimise supplies and ease pressure on health workers

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Researchers in Thailand have developed a machine to draw out Covid-19 vaccine doses more efficiently and optimise lower-than-expected supplies as the country struggles with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet.

Using a robotic arm, the AutoVacc" system can draw 12 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in four minutes from a vial, according to researchers at Chulalongkorn University, who made the machine that has been used at the university's vaccination centre since Monday.