How Pfizer plans to keep its vaccine at subarctic temperature during transport

Pfizer is now the first company to apply Emergency powers Its Corona virus The vaccine, Organizing sprints by scientists from the Food and Drug Administration to allow it.

According to data released this week to the National Academy of Medicine, about 25 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine could be available in December, 30 million in January and 35 million more in February and March. Recipients will need three doses, except for three weeks.

CBS News got an inside look at the rational challenges of making Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine public, including the required temperature of storage temperatures that people get in the coldest places on Earth.

Colder, drier ice than Antarctica in winter – made up of carbon dioxide – is crucial for moving and storing these vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine needs to be kept 94 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Dry ice helps maintain subarctic temperatures during shipping.

Pfizer developed a thermal shipper, which they called “Cool B, X” for the trip. It’s about the size of a carry-on suitcase.

“There’s dry ice that goes around it, and then it really has a device that has a constant GPS and temperature monitor,” said Tanya Elcorn, vice president of Pfizer’s biopharma global supply chain.

Each “Cool B” X contains at least 1000 vaccine doses, which poses a challenge for rural communities as there is no place to store them.

“I don’t think anyone wants to send a message that rural Wisconsin or rural America is second-class,” said Tim Size, executive director of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative, which represents 43 rural hospitals across the state.

He added, “If you can carry 1000, you can send 200 ships.” “It’s more expensive. It’s more cumbersome, but it allows the villagers to be vaccinated at the same time the citizens are vaccinated.”

Pfizer told CBS News they are working to ensure equal distribution, which is one of the many challenges. Frontline health care workers will be among the first to receive the vaccine, but according to a recent Gallup poll, only 58% of Americans said they would receive it when it was provided to the general public.