At the start of the COVID-19 vaccine release from Pfizer and BioNTech, the companies said their vaccines ultra-cold storage is required of at least 7070 ° C ± 10 ° C. According to the CDC, vaccine filters are stored in containers containing at least 975 doses.
But after a few months, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that their highly effective COVID-19 vaccine does not require ultra-cold storage conditions after all. In addition, the vaccines can be kept stable at normal freezer temperatures for two weeks, ARS Technica said.
They have already submitted their new data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which shows that their vaccines are stable even in warmer conditions than their first report in an effort. for regulatory approval to reduce vaccine storage requirements and labeling.
(Image: Getty Images)
TRURO, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 08: Alison Hill, Chief Operating Pharmacist, opens one of two cryogenic freezers storing the covid-19 vaccines at the Royal Cornwall Hospital as they prepare for their vaccination program their covid-19 will start at 8am the next morning, on 8 December 2020 in Falmouth, United Kingdom. More than 50 hospitals across England have been identified as covid-19 vaccine hubs, the first phase of a long-running vaccine campaign. NHS staff, people over the age of 80, and care home residents will be among the first to receive the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, which recently received emergency approval from the country’s health authorities. (Photo by Hugh Hastings / Getty Images)
Normal freezer temperatures
The stability data submitted by Pfizer and BioNTech to the US regulator show that their COVID-19 vaccine can be stored at normal medical freezer temperatures around -15 ° C to -25 ° C for up to two weeks, Financial Times reported.
According to Ugur Sahin, head of BioNTech, the ability to store the vaccine at warmer temperatures than their previous guidelines would give vaccine establishments more flexibility. He said the company continues to develop new formulations so that their COVID-19 vaccine is even easier to carry and use.
The Pfizer and BioNTech merger vaccine was the first to receive an emergency use permit from the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union last year. However, transporting the vaccines has been a challenge due to its storage temperature requirements especially in remote areas without “cool chain” infrastructure.
As one of the logistics companies involved in the delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, DHL said the government earlier this month failed to prepare for the delivery of the end that is beyond the dedicated distribution and storage facilities.
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What does this mean?
The new storage guidelines are expected to reduce the restrictions on storing the vaccines and make them more competitive. Other vaccine developers like the Moderna vaccine use similar mRNA technology that can be stored in a cooling temperature between 2 ° C and 8 ° C for 30 days.
Also, CureVac from Germany can be kept at the same freezing temperature for three months.
“We have been conducting ongoing sustainability studies to support the production of the vaccine at a commercial scale, with the aim of making the vaccine as accessible as possible to health care providers and people across the U.S. and beyond. worldwide, “Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.
“If adopted, this new storage option would give vaccine establishments more flexibility in how they manage their vaccine supply.”
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