[ad_1]
Vaccines must be kept cold, and in addition, the Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 must be kept at very low temperatures, which will be a problem for developing countries but also for rural areas of the developed world, CNN comments, quoted. by Mediafax.
The “cold chain” is just one of the challenges
The “cold chain” is just one of the challenges of vaccine distribution around the world.
There are many more: decisions on priorities and databases to track who received what vaccine, where and when. Furthermore, different vaccines may be more or less effective for different population groups; and governments will need public relations campaigns to convince people that vaccines are safe.
But the logistics of transporting and storing vaccines, transporting them from the factory gate to the patient’s arm, is essential. And because most vaccines require two doses, the entire chain must be repeated.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should be kept at approximately -70 degrees Celsius while in transit, 50 degrees Celsius cooler than any other vaccine currently used.
Moderna says her vaccine can be stored in freezers generally available at pharmacies and in the refrigerator for 30 days. But there may be fewer doses of the Moderna vaccine than Pfizer available next year.
Phase 3 studies have shown both vaccines to be around 95% effective, but regulators have not yet analyzed the results.
BioNTech CEO acknowledged the problem of temperature control
On Wednesday, the CEO of BioNTech, the German biotech company that partners with Pfizer, acknowledged the problem of temperature control. “We are working on a formulation that could allow us to administer the vaccine even at room temperature,” Ugur Sahin told CNN. “We believe that in the second half of 2021 we will find a formula comparable to any other type of vaccine.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar says the Moderna vaccine is “more flexible” for a local pharmacist. Pfizer, he said Monday, would be better prepared for the big vaccination.
Pfizer plans to deliver up to 1.3 billion doses next year, which requires a lot of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide at -78 degrees Celsius) and lots of isothermal cans. The boxes will hold up to 975 vials (4,875 doses) and can be filled with dry ice for up to 15 days of storage.
Pfizer is testing the supply chain in four states in the US Its CEO, Albert Bourla, said Wednesday he has “no concerns” about cold requirements.
Vaccine delivery is a big challenge
But delivering such a vaccine can be a big challenge. Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, deputy director of the Pan American Health Organization, told CNN that “rural and urban areas of every country in the world are not ready to administer this vaccine today.”
The Compressed Gas Association says that carbon dioxide production in the United States and Canada is about 30,000 tons per day and is confident that its members can meet the demand for dry ice. The association estimates that less than 5% of dry ice production will be needed to support ultra-cold storage of Covid-19 vaccines in the United States and Canada.
Others in the industry expect lockdowns. Several US dry ice producers told CNN they already had offers for all of their production.
The US Aviation Administration classifies dry ice as dangerous goods
The Federal Aviation Administration classifies dry ice as dangerous goods.
Peter Gerber, CEO of Lufthansa Cargo, told CNN that the need for dry ice “clearly reduces the carrying capacity, because if you have to carry more ice, you can’t carry as much vaccine anymore. And, of course, the procedures must be special. “
The US courier DHL adapted its distribution plans according to the specifications of each vaccine. David Goldberg, CEO of Global Forwarding US, says that “there is a restriction on the amount of dry ice that is used on an airplane, generally 500 to 1,000 kilograms, depending on several factors.”
Pfizer vials can be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius for up to five days before they deteriorate. Pfizer says it has developed a “just-in-time system that will ship frozen vials directly to the vaccination site.” It will also monitor the temperature of each box shipped.
Logistics are slower and medical facilities are less equipped in developing countries. CO2 production is limited and the cost and dangers of transporting large amounts of dry ice are also an obstacle.
A massive air corridor is needed to transport the vaccine
David Gitlin, CEO of Carrier Refrigeration Specialists, told CNN last week: “When you look at places like Africa and India, they just don’t have the cold infrastructure. The United States spends 300 times more per capita on the cold chain than India. “
Beyond the cold chain, there are other logistical obstacles.
A massive air corridor is needed to transport the vaccine. Pfizer, which has production lines in Europe and the United States, says it expects an average of 20 cargo flights a day around the world.
DHL expects 15 million reefer boxes to be delivered on 15,000 flights over the next two years.
Publisher: Liviu Cojan
