Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Extreme Cold Pfizer Vaccine Requires Will Make Broad Distribution Tough
Bloomberg: Deep-Freeze Hurdle Makes Pfizer’s Vaccine One For The Rich
When Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 vaccine rolls off production lines, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. will be waiting to distribute it through a complex and costly system of deep-freeze airport warehouses, refrigerated vehicles and inoculation points across China. After they reach vaccination centers, the shots must be thawed from -70 degrees celsius and injected within five days, if not they go bad. (11/10)
Stat: Rural Hospitals Can't Afford Freezers To Store A Covid-19 Vaccine
Large urban hospitals across the U.S. are rushing to buy expensive ultra-cold freezers to store what’s likely to be the first approved Covid-19 vaccine. But most rural hospitals can’t afford these high-end units, meaning health workers and residents in those communities may have difficulty getting the shots. (Goldhill, 11/11)
CNN: Pfizer's Ultra-Cold Vaccine, A 'Very Complex' Distribution Plan, And An Exploding Head Emoji
As Molly Howell, a state health official in North Dakota, watched a webinar on how to distribute what's expected to be the first Covid-19 vaccine, her head began to spin. "How are we going to do this?" she texted a colleague who was also on the webinar. Her colleague responded with an exploding head emoji. (Cohen, Bonifield and Jenkins, 11/10)
Stateline: Vaccine Trial Raises Hopes But Distribution Will Challenge States
States have worked vigorously for months on their COVID-19 vaccine plans but still face a long list of substantial uncertainties, even as hopes rise that the first vaccines could receive federal approval before the end of the year. Despite the unknowns and the enormity of the task ahead — vaccinating a population of 330 million — state public health officials feel more confident in working with the federal government on vaccines than other matters such as testing, contact tracing and the production and distribution of medical supplies. On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden announced his pandemic response task force, and Pfizer announced that its vaccine candidate has shown in an early analysis to be more than 90% effective. (Ollove, 11/10)
Also —
KHN: Five Important Questions About Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine
Pfizer’s announcement on Monday that its COVID-19 shot appears to keep nine in 10 people from getting the disease sent its stock price rocketing. Many news reports described the vaccine as if it were our deliverance from the pandemic, even though few details were released. There was certainly something to crow about: Pfizer’s vaccine consists of genetic material called mRNA encased in tiny particles that shuttle it into our cells. From there, it stimulates the immune system to make antibodies that protect against the virus. A similar strategy is employed in other leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates. If mRNA vaccines can protect against COVID-19 and, presumably, other infectious diseases, it will be a momentous piece of news. (Allen, 11/11)
Fox News: Coronavirus Vaccine Education Will Be Key To Distribution Success, Doctor Says
News that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine candidate showed 90% efficacy in phase 3 clinical trial was applauded by infectious disease experts on Monday — but getting both the medical community and the public to receive the vaccine, should it be authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will rely heavily on vaccine education, one doctor told Fox News. (Farber, 11/10)
AP: EU To Buy Up To 300 Million Doses Of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine
The European Commission will sign a deal to secure up to 300 million doses of the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer. Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the EU’s executive arm, said the commission will authorize the deal on Wednesday after “working tirelessly to secure doses of potential vaccines” in recent months. (11/10)
