Oil & Gas Covid-19 Vaccination Policies

Believe it or not, the development of the vaccines for COVID-19 would not be possible without the massive contributions coming from the oil and gas industry, particularly the hydrocarbons.

Hydrocarbons, which are derived from oil and natural gas, have a surprisingly wide array of uses in the medical field. They are used in producing vials, personal protective gears, and a myriad of other equipment throughout the medical logistics chain, including syringes, tubing, IV components, and polypropylene masks that are useful for both the first responders and the patients.

Deemed as the basis of organic chemistry that makes plastics, hydrocarbons make the manufacture of medical supplies possible. In turn, plastics have numerous uses in the healthcare sector, from the housing of refrigeration units to test tubes and goggles in the laboratory. Over the years, plastic medical equipment has made healthcare cheaper and simpler as they can be mass-produced without breaking the bank.

On top of this, hydrocarbons supply 63% of the United States’ electricity in hospitals, production facilities, cooling and sterile air handling. At least 95% of transportation fuels like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, which are used in transporting personnel, component parts, and the vaccines themselves, also come from oil and natural gas.

Without hydrocarbons, the modern and accelerated development and deployment of these life-saving COVID-19 vaccines are almost impossible, let alone Covid-19 vaccination programs in Asia.

In conclusion, hydrocarbons play a vital role in the production of plastics mainly used in the medical field; in refrigeration of vaccines to keep Covid-19 Vaccination active; and in the transportation of these vaccines, personnel, and equipment worldwide.

It is essential that people recognize the immense and diverse benefits that the oil and gas industry contributes, especially in Covid-19 vaccination and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Calls from certain environmentalists and politicians to eliminate oil and gas in the medical field, if heeded, would largely affect the vaccine mobilization.