Like many other Americans, in 2021, I volunteered at a mass vaccine site.
Every person got the same vaccine, the same amount, and the same size needle.
While body weight is one way of determining this need, body shape and size are the key.
Vaccinators are charged with making the determination while consulting the patient prior to the vaccine.
How was I supposed to know about this?
The trouble is,weight bias in healthcareis prevalent and well-known.
I interviewed six vaccinators who said they worked at mass vaccination sites across the U.S. during 2021.
I would let the vaccinators worry about this, not the patients.
You will find most pharmacies will only use one size.
Only the Walgreens indicated that they were.
The Los Angeles and New York locations both said they were using one-inch needles on everyone.
When I asked them about the needle-length advisory, both seemed surprised by the information.
What happens if I dont get a long enough needle?
Whats less clear is how that translates to efficacy of vaccines, including the COVID vaccine.
With COVID, we dont have good measurement tools, so there is no effective titer to run.
But, in 2010, astudywas run on adolescents with obesity who received a Hepatitis B vaccine.
Longer needles led to 80% higher titer levels post vaccination.
That said, how a vaccine is administered counts, too.
More experienced vaccinators might be able to inject at an angle that still penetrates the muscle.
Regardless, there is no suggestion that vaccinations with shorter needles than advised are worthless.
Its still better to get a vaccine with a standard needle than not get one at all.
How do I know if I got a longer needle and how do I ask for one?
Needle length isnt indicated on any record, so youll likely never know what length you received previously.
She explained that there is scientific foundation for the request, which should hopefully make speaking up easier.
She advocated for patients to speak on their own behalf.
Do you have any 1.5 inch needles available today?
Any vaccinator should be able to see thats the standard of care.
