How are we going to keep the vaccine cold enough? - Page 3

pitdakota · ‎03-16-2010

@LizzieInSRQ wrote:
@Mindy D many places around the country have embryo, sperm, egg, stem cell etc, storage systems. , Many Vaccines in existance have to be strored-58 to 40 so I am sure these machines can go lower. If not, they will be purchased and they have alarm systems,

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@LizzieInSRQ, I can't speak to embryo, stem cell storage systems but I can speak to vaccines since I have administered all types of vaccines over the years in addition to doing drive through vaccination programs.

Most vaccines can be stored safely at usual refrigeration or freezer temperatures.

There is usually an acceptable range of storage temp for vaccines. 2 vaccines I can think of that are some of the lowest (VAR & Zostavax) have some low temps, but is safe to store at -15 degrees Celsius. That converts to around 5 degrees F which is a far cry from -94 degrees F.

Found a chart similar to the one we always used when doing vaccination drives:

https://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/immunizations/Practice-Manageme...

@Mindy D, they have special freezers they can use for the storage of this vaccine. UPS Worldport in Louisville, Ky has been developing a freezer farm with several of these freezers. Let's hope they are also working on a national plan to assist the states since the states had to submit a plan for administration to the federal government.

But it will be quite a feat to transport it to the states and then out to sites where it will be administered. I posted quite some time ago that this vaccine will not be like the influenza vaccine where it is widely available at kinds of doctors' offices, pharmacies, etc.

Having to store it in the special freezer will limit that to a degree. There is a window of time that the vaccine can be diluted and then administered so that gives them a small window of time, but not by much. Can't remember the range of time I read but it isn't like hours so they won't have oodles of time to dilute and prepare multiple syringes for administration.

Moderna's mRNA covid-19 vaccine's efficacy data should be coming here pretty soon. Both Moderna and Pfizer started their phase 3 clinical trials at about the same time.

Moderna's vaccine does need to be stored at a lower temp, but not as low as Pfizer's.

They have a monumental task, but the states do have some time to work this out. It is important to realize we have the efficacy data for Pfizer, but are still awaiting safety data. Given that data is acceptable, I believe Pfizer will have somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 million doses available.

That means only 20 million people will be able to be vaccinated during that timeframe.

In the meantime, it is possible that another vaccine comes out and it will be available for public administration as well.

* Freedom has a taste the protected will never know *

DJP · ‎03-09-2010

I suggest not taking the vaccine if you don't trust it. Then you don't have to worry about how it is distributed.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

I know our local hospital has the storage for it. Now, how much storage I can't say. It will have to be done in stages. And remember it's two shots a month apart, so that's kind of a nightmare. I'm all for the ones who need it most getting it first (medical personnel, the elderly, immunocompromised, etc.) I have no problem waiting. I know there is another one in development that doesn't require the extreme storage temps.

There's a research facility not far from my house that MIGHT also have that kind of storage although I don't know. My daughter might since she works at one of the biotech companies in the multi-company biotech campus. I know at least one of the companies was involved in research into the efficacy of an approved treatment protocol.

The real problem is going to be poorer and rural communities that don't have a large hospital.

Maggie Nolia · ‎03-09-2010

I believe that's above my pay grade.

If that's all I had to think about, I would consider myself very fortunate.

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
There are special freezers for that. The ones I used when I worked in a virology lab were -70'C.

@SilleeMee I did not mean how they keep it cold in the lab I meant in transit and at its destinations. @Kachina624 knew and described the carrier and then I was able to find it.

Linmo · ‎12-16-2013

I hope Pfizer, Moderna and other companies figure out how to properly store and distribute the vaccine and that it's effective. I have always been a late adopter and will continue to wear my mask, social distance and stay in my pod for the winter season at least, probably longer.

ROMARY · ‎04-28-2010

I'm still hoping for sugar cubes. Maybe frozen sugar cubes.

Somehow, somewhere, sometime. There's always hope in the scientific realm.

Wishing these new vaccines the very best of success and luck.

We've come so very far in medicine. Brilliant scientists and medical research folks.

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).

Pook · ‎03-20-2010

That is what makes the vaccine iffy. If there is one slippup (that is not acknowledged) in the shipping and storing process - well- then it could make the vaccine worthless or even cause other health issues. And yes I will not be getting it when available until it is really proven harmless. I remember only too well the Swine Flu side effect issues that so many are still dealing with.

Krimpette · ‎03-09-2010

I heard recently that mostly hospitals have the capability, thus that would be where one would go to get the vaccine. The report I heard also said that the storage units that can accommodate that temperature are very costly (I believe at least $10K.