The Pfizer vaccine and cold storage

I read that FedEx and UPS were going to start and "make" some of their trucks with freezers to not only transport the vaccine but to store it for use.

Our local hospitals & agencies are already coordinating and trying to figure out how they're going to manage the storage requirements of this vaccine, and it's definitely a challenge. From what DH said, the manufacturer is pretty much insisting that it be given where it's delivered to and not transported out to care homes, satellite vax sites etc. because they're worried it won't be stored appropriately offsite.

Also, it requires 2 doses 21 days apart, and so that begs the question of whether you basically get to dose 21 days of people, and then no one new for the next 21 days, before you can get back to new people due to capacity restraints of facilities and staff.

I badly want there to be a good vaccine and for it to be distributed quickly, but the difficulties involved in getting it to facilities and then getting people dosed, mean it's far from ready to go. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, but the end of the tunnel is still pretty far away.

YEs, mRNA is difficult for storage for stability vs. other vaccines which are proteins or antibodies. I've worked with and studied both. The mRNA ones will be challenging.

horizon-magazine.eu/article/five-things-you-need-know-about-mrna-vaccines.html

No other vaccine uses mRNA.

Eta: it is an older post but offers some basic info into mRNA.

Using mRNA for vaccines is a novel technology. Here is a review of how it works and lists ongoing studies www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2017.243
I have worked with RNA and there are RNAses that are present, on your hands, etc. and you have to treat utensils with DEPC to make sure these enzymes do not degrade RNA, whereas antibodies and protein are much more resistant. HTH.

with the spread of our populations and the conditions needed for the vaccine.. it is going to take a long time to make it accessible to the general public. storage, transport, transport of people, following up for second dose... it is doable but veryv ery difficult.. how will they get it to care homes in rural america?

I believe there will have to be more efficacy and peer reviewed studies performed for safety. I think it was premature for Pfizer to announce, but may give hope to the public to keep strong.

Don't let it freak you out. Research and some clinical trials have already been held for mRNA for some time, way before Covis-19 arrived. BioNTech have been working on it for some time, in particular for future cancer treatment.


LINK

I think summer is a best case scenario in terms of high enough vaccination %ages to, for example, not feel like we should be masking up at the grocery store.  I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for it to be late fall next year before we're at that stage, and that's IF we find out the immunity is lasting a long time and probably if at least one other vaccine is approved as well to ease availability.

I work in a nursing home. We’ve already contracted with CVS to get the first approved vaccine ASAP. I will get it. I have concerns that many responsible parties will refuse. I will likely be among the nurses calling to get consent when the time comes, it will be interesting. I understand the concerns with a rushed vaccine, this is so hard.

Right, and with other vaccines it takes years to write grant approvals and procure funding which is included in the development time. Like I said, I’ll get it. We had our first covid death a couple of days ago and it’s terrifying to watch it spread through this vulnerable population.

I actually know the answer to this!!! It's at standard refrigerator temperature -- 40 degrees F. The same as any other vaccine you get. They take it out a few minutes before giving it to you.

Sorry... had my numbers wrong. Decided to just delete the post, because I really don't care about the storage, since I won't ever be getting the vaccine anyways.