A webinar on how to distribute what is believed to be the first U.S. covid-19 vaccine, like Molly Howell, a state health official in North Dakota, made her head spin.
“How do we do this?” She texted a colleague who was also on the webinar.
His companion responded with a head emoji exploding.
On Monday, Pfizer announced that initial Phase 3 clinical trial results showed its vaccine was more than 90% effective. If approved, the Pfizer vaccine would also be the most delicate vaccine used in the United States, and state health officials in charge of its distribution worry that the process will not go smoothly.
The Pfizer vaccine needs to be stored at about minus 75 degrees Celsius, which is about 50 degrees colder than any vaccine currently used in the United States. Doctors ’offices don’t have freezers in fees, pharmacies and state labs that almost go down.
The solution is a set of handling and storage requirements that the U.S. Department of Disease Control and Prevention has to deal with. The center’s doctor described it as “very complex.”
The CDC has asked states to be ready to receive the Pfizer vaccine by November 15, but state officials say the first time they heard of specific requirements was on October 15, giving them weeks to prepare.
State health officials were stunned when they heard of the collection requirements for the new vaccine, said Dr. Krishna Kumar, associate director of the Immunization Coalition Coalition. Kelly Moore said he will administer the coronavirus vaccine, which will help front workers. Those requirements include the purchase and handling of large quantities of dry ice, which short supply in many parts of the country.
“We all expect there will be major setbacks,” he said.
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