Keeping Coronavirus Vaccines in a Deep Freezers : A Big Challenge for USA
                     Keeping Coronavirus Vaccines in a Deep 
Freezers: A Big Challenge for USA 
 
In the US, significant challenges have emerged in storing Coronavirus vaccines at freezing 
temperatures. Know the preparations to mitigate the challenges. 
 
Reputed drug companies readying COVID19 vaccines is good news, bringing a ray of hope for 
lives to return to normalcy. But the fact remains is that some challenges are also associated 
with it. And one of the challenges is keeping the vaccines at minus degrees temperatures. 
 
Ideally, the vaccines should be kept at -80 degrees C from bottling to administration to people. 
But that will not be that easy. 
 
Vaccines will have to be transported across countries, from production facilities to logistics 
hubs to hospitals and pharmacies. And to accomplish adequate transportation, trucks and 
planes will have to be fitted with freezers. Supply chain management for the vaccines will have 
to meet the freezing temperature requirements to preserve the vaccines.  
 
According to the prevailing market conditions, most of the specialized freezers' prices are 
within the USD 7,000 to USD 15,000 range in the USA.  
 
In the meantime, two drug majors, Pfizer and Moderna, have announced the development of 
COVID19 vaccines, bringing a sigh of relief across the world. According to the information 
available in the public domain, Pfizer's vaccine should be kept at -80 degrees C, and Moderna's 
at -20 degrees C. 
 
All healthcare facilities should invest in an ultra-low temperature freezer to store the vaccines 
to administer to people. Already, there has been a surge of around 50 percent in the sales of 
such freezers in the US. 
 
 
Cold Chain 
 
The vaccines will have to be shipped far and wide, maintaining the requisite temperature. 
According to the indications in place, the first vaccine dosages will be administered in California 
and everywhere else by late December 2020. 
 
In the USA, preparations for handling the vaccines have begun, and the cold chain 
infrastructure is undergoing upgrades to maintain the requisite temperature. There is also an 
issue with the local health authorities experienced in handling refrigerated vaccines but little or 
no experience with ultra-low temperature vaccines. So, the local authorities call for some 
training on handling such refrigerators. 
 
The government is conducting many webinars to educate the local health authorities on the 
right cold-chain management for the vaccines to impart the necessary knowledge. The 
government and other bodies are also providing knowledge on storing and handling the 
vaccines, purchasing ultra-low temperature freezers, and other essential aspects like creating a 
backup storage capability for emergency purposes. 
 
In California, the government is grappling with the population segment to priority in getting the 
first vaccinations. California is a big state with a huge population, so the government must set a 
strategic communication plan to address the problem and the cold chain issues. 
 
However, California has formulated a robust vaccine roll-out plan, with comprehensive 
infrastructure and an expert task force. Despite the preparations, California's situation is just 
the same as in any other state. It cannot make 100 percent right decisions because more 
vaccines haven't been approved yet. 
 
 
According to the information available publicly, Alameda County in California is putting in place 
a planned vaccine distribution strategy to ensure that high risk and highly impacted populations 
get priority in the vaccination process. According to the plan, the administration will work 
closely with health care providers to seek input from community service providers and 
representatives of populations and neighborhoods to determine the population's priority 
segment. The goal also involves building trust with communities, disseminate accurate and 
timely information. Besides, community flu clinics are being used as practice models in 
determining what could be needed for mass COVID-19 vaccination. It will be helpful to figure 
out the COVID19 vaccine storage, handling, and distribution framework. 
 
Healthcare facilities in the US face shipping delays for ultra-cold freezers because there has 
been a spurt in the purchases.  
 
Although Moderna'sModerna's vaccine needs -30 degrees C, an ultra-cold freezer is 
unnecessary for storing its vaccines; pharmaceutical grade refrigerators will suffice. But the 
issue is that there may not be enough such freezers due to the heavy rush. 
 
However, mass vaccination is not likely to happen before spring, so, eventually, the supply of 
cold and ultra-cold freezers should be able to catch up with demand.