Ultra-Cold Storage Of Pfizer Vaccine No Longer Required By FDA
The FDA approved Pfizer's application for a change in policy that allows its coronavirus shot to be transported and stored in ordinary freezers. The move could make it easier to administer shots from more locations around the U.S.
Reuters:
FDA Allows Storage, Transport Of Pfizer Vaccine At Higher Temperatures
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved storage and transportation of COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE at standard freezer temperatures for up to two weeks instead of ultra-cold conditions. Last week, the companies had asked the U.S. health regulator to relax requirements for their COVID-19 vaccine to be stored at ultra-low temperatures, potentially allowing it to be kept in pharmacy freezers. (2/25)
Forbes:
Pfizer’s Covid Vaccine Doesn’t Need Ultra-Cold Storage, FDA Says
It’s not uncommon for vaccines to need refrigeration, but Pfizer initially thought its drug needed especially frigid storage to stay potent, posing a challenge for distributors and local health officials. Ultra-cold freezers are pricey, making them out of reach for many rural hospitals and resource-strapped medical clinics, and the sudden demand for those specialized freezers sparked a worldwide rush to buy them. (Walsh, 2/25)
The Washington Examiner:
FDA Greenlights Pfizer Vaccine To Be Stored At Normal Freezer Temperatures, Instead Of Ultra-Cold
"The alternative temperature for transportation and storage will help ease the burden of procuring ultra-low cold storage equipment for vaccination sites and should help to get vaccine to more sites," Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. (Soellner, 2/25)
Time:
FDA: Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Doesn’t Need Ultra-Cold Storage
When Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine became the first authorized for use in the U.S., the good news came with a catch: the vaccine, the first of its kind using a new mRNA-based technology, needs to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures (-80°C to -60°C) until thawing just before being injected into people’s arms. State health centers, hospitals and other potential vaccination sites scrambled to acquire special freezers that could reach these deep-freeze temperatures, and Pfizer developed a special shipping container that could keep doses appropriately chilled for up to a month as long as the container was continuously supplied with dry ice. Still, the temperature requirement meant some locations opted not to order the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. (Park, 2/26)
