Why Pfizer's ultra-cold COVID-19 vaccine will not be at the local pharmacy any time soon

[LiberalArkie]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Work to distribute the experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE is gearing up after the companies announced successful interim data earlier on Monday, but it will not be coming to local pharmacies for the general public any time soon.

The data, which sent U.S. stocks to record highs [.N], showed that the two companies’ experimental vaccine is 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. They are still awaiting data on safety, which could come later this month.

Pfizer and BioNTech need to get regulators to sign off on the shot before it can start shipping vaccines to those considered most in need by government. Healthcare workers and people living in nursing homes will likely top that list.

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The main issue is that the vaccine, which is based on a novel technology that uses synthetic mRNA to activate the immune system against the virus, needs to be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius (-94 F) or below.

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https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccines-distribut/why-pfizers-ultra-cold-covid-19-vaccine-will-not-be-at-the-local-pharmacy-any-time-soon-idUSKBN27P2VI?utm_source=reddit.com

[OnDoutside]

1. It's more like a stock price boost to me.. December is profit taking time.

[LiberalArkie]

3. Sounds like it would be for only the wealthiest of the wealthy because of the requirements

[OnDoutside]

9. Yes, I was listening to an interview earlier where the lady said that

this particular vaccine probably would not be heading to the developing world because of the temperature range of this vaccine.. .. aside from the cost

[LisaL]

2. It is also a 2 dose vaccine, making distribution even more complicated.

NT

[Karadeniz]

4. Will it still be 100 below zero when it's injected??? That seems unhealthy!

[LisaL]

5. I doubt it.

You can't inject a solid matter, so I am assuming it has to be defrosted before injection.

[MiniMe]

10. I think I read somewhere on DU That it can be stored for 24 hours at room temperature

[LiberalArkie]

6. It would have to be warmed up like blood is for surgery.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

14. When I had cooler than my body tempurature

Antibiotics through an IV because I was bit by a cat..it hurt like a son of a bitch because veins can't convey cold so it comes out as pain. And OMG it hurt.
They added painkillers to it it hurt me so bad.

Hope the vaccine isn't cold when it goes in.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. Don't be such a snowflake! er, um, Be a colder snowflake!

[misanthrope]

7. Because it's science, not magic

There's still a whole lot of process left, including the peer review.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Not What CVS Is Saying

In an interview, Merlo said CVS has expanded cold storage and related facilities for vaccines. Some vaccines in late-stage U.S. testing that need to be stored at minus 80 degrees Celsius, which is minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Such storage and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is key to the massive logistics effort that will be needed to reach hundreds of millions of Americans.

I know the small CVS is our town of 6k already has a cryo cabinet.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2020/11/09/cvs-ceo-pharmacies-ready-to-distribute-covid-19-vaccines-once-approved/?sh=40a37c52dd83

Hard to believe Walgreen's is letting CVS get too big a jump.

[Drahthaardogs]

12. I expect USACE and the military to help distribute

This will be a national response

[Klaralven]

13. The temp of dry ice is -78 Celsius

So -70 Celsius is a manageable temperature. It is way above liquid oxygen at -183 Celsius, liquid nitrogen at -196 Celsius or liquid helium in MRI machines at -269 Celsius.

[Disaffected]

15. In the good old days,

lots of things were shipped about packed with dry ice in a simple insulated cardboard box. The dry ice can also be easily topped up for storage purposes. Easy peasy ...

[Gothmog]

16. My son is part of Pfizer trial

It takes 30 minutes to thaw out a dose. My son is sure that he got the vaccine. He took a antibody test that show he has antibodies