When the B.C. Centre for Disease Control needed a way to separate children and adult doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, it asked the applied research department at Camosun College for help.
Creative minds at the community college had already developed a face shield, a mask sterilizer and sturdy specialized trays to secure COVID-19 vaccine vials during transport.
This time, staff came up with distinctive bright orange vaccine trays and dividers that help to easily distinguish between child and adult doses of the vaccine. Children’s vials are the same size as the adult vials, but have a distinctive orange mark on the label.
Applied research technician Matt Zeleny said the colour-coded trays are an example of how community colleges such as Camosun can find answers to real-world problems.
Camosun Innovates staff, at the college’s Interurban campus, used a commercial-grade laser cutter to make 150 trays to hold doses for children ages five to 11, along with 25 retaining bases that help to stabilize the trays during transport. The 0.635-centimetre-thick acrylic modular, stackable trays hold 20 vials and fit inside ultra-low-temperature portable freezers. The Camosun Innovates team 3D scanned the inside of the freezer and designed a retaining structure to stabilize the modular trays and ensure a perfect fit.
“Camosun Innovates has once again shown how applied research can help with the efficient distribution of vaccines so they get to where they need to go,” said Camosun president Sherri Bell. “As a community college, we are committed to working with our partners to improve the lives of students, communities and our province through innovation and education.”
Camosun Innovates also developed a grabbing tool that looks like a pair of scissors — dubbed the Camosun VI-grip — that can pick up five vials at once to cut down on transfer time. The tool is manufactured using a 3D printer.
On Monday, the orange trays were sent to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Vancouver Coastal Health has also made a request for the children’s dose trays.
The college only charges $8 per tray, which is the cost of manufacturing them, said spokesman Rodney Porter.
“The colour-coded trays developed by Camosun support health-care professionals to safely administer vaccines to children. Innovations like these trays are the foundation of B.C.’s post-secondary institutions,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
“By manufacturing these orange trays, Camosun has demonstrated they can deliver practical solutions to everyday challenges and contribute to B.C.’s vaccination efforts.”
Other recent Camosun Innovates projects include the design and manufacturing of competitive equipment for Paralympians, complex sport simulators and self-righting watercraft.
