Everything You Should Know About Storing COVID19 Vaccines at Freezing Temperatures
                     Everything You Should Know About Storing 
COVID19 Vaccines at Freezing 
Temperatures 
 
Freezing temperature environments are needed for storing COVID19 vaccines so that their 
potency remains intact. Know the underlying reasons. 
 
It is no longer secret that COVID19 vaccines are ready. Scientists' unmatched efforts to develop 
the vaccines have eventually borne fruit, raising hopes for seeing an end to the pandemic, 
which has thrown lives out of gear. 
 
Global drug companies Pfizer & BioNTech, and Moderna, have announced the successful 
completion of their COVID19 vaccine development, which symbolizes unmatched scale, speed, 
and scientific advances.  
 
According to the companies, the vaccine of Pfizer and BioNTech is 95 percent effective, and the 
effectiveness of Moderna's vaccine is also 95 percent. 
 
Along with the good news, a hurdle has cropped up--keeping the vaccines in minus degree 
temperature environments. 
 
Vaccines are fragile. They require rigorous temperature control, or else they get spoiled. And 
vaccines get damaged a lot due to inappropriate temperatures.  
 
According to the World Health Organization, around half of the vaccines transported across the 
world get damaged and become unfit for use. And inappropriate temperatures cause the 
maximum damages.  
 
All vaccines lose their potency if they get exposed to temperatures outside the prescribed 
range.  
 
The susceptibility of vaccines to temperature fluctuations stands a more significant problem in 
the storage and transportation of COVID19 vaccines.  
 
Both the vaccines are based on a genetic material called mRNA that necessitates stringent 
temperature environments. While Pfizer & BioNTech's vaccine should be stored at minus 70 
degrees C, Moderna's vaccine needs to be stored at minus 20 degrees C. 
 
Why Do the Vaccines Require Freezing Temperatures? 
The vaccines requiring minus degree C temperatures for storage are due to the usage of mRNA 
in them.  
 
The mRNA technology has been instrumental in enabling scientists to develop the vaccines 
within a reasonable time.  
 
But, the mRNA itself is very fragile. It breaks down easily. It was the intrinsic instability of mRNA 
that posed grave challenges in developing mRNA-based vaccines in the past. Besides, the 
biological material used to pack the mRNA was also a bit unstable.  
 
However, scientists did not give up. They did a lot of work in developing methods to make 
mRNA more stable. So, scientists can now use mRNA in developing vaccines.  
 
However, mRNA still requires freezing temperatures to keep its stability intact. It is due to this 
reason that the vaccines need minus degrees C temperature environments. And when it comes 
to the Pfizer & BioNTech's vaccine, it requires a freezing temperature of minus 70 degrees C, 
which is much colder for a standard freezer to store the vaccine effectively. So, the healthcare 
facilities will need an ultra low-temperature freezer for storing the vaccine effectively.  
 
Why Need Ultra Cold Freezers? 
As the vaccines call for freezing temperatures, the distribution channel should be equipped 
with an adequate number of ultra-low temperature freezers to enable the vaccine's wide-scale 
administration. Without the sufficiency of such freezers, mass vaccination will be hard to 
achieve.  
 
The moot issue is that such freezers are not already available in hospitals, pharmacies, and 
private doctor chambers. The only answer to the problem is purchasing such freezers for 
storing the vaccines. 
 
Moderna's vaccine has some flexibility in comparison to Pfizer & BioNTech's vaccine. While the 
Pfizer & BioNTech's vaccine can be stored in a standard freezer for about five days without 
spoiling it, Moderna's vaccine can remain effective in a standard refrigerator for about 30 days. 
 
How to Choose an Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer? 
It has become clear that an ultra-low temperature freezer has become the mainstay of 
healthcare facilities to administer COVID19 vaccines to people effectively.  
 
But there are a few things to consider before you shell out money in purchasing such a freezer. 
Therefore, consider the following factors beforehand: 
 
Security 
Choose a freezer with an electronic lock and built-in temperature monitoring systems. With the 
facilities, you can protect the vaccines from unauthorized access or power outages. Also, thick 
and well-insulated inner walls will restrict any quick warm-up inside the unit. 
 
Performance 
Ensure the unit you choose can maintain the freezing temperature consistently. Look for robust 
inner doors with gaskets and easy-to-maintain door gaskets to maintain a uniform and 
consistent temperature inside it. 
 
Alarm System 
Choose a unit with an automatic alarm system. If the inside temperature fluctuates due to any 
reason, the alarm should send a signal so that you can take the necessary action. You cannot 
allow any temperature fluctuations as that can damage the vaccines. 
 
The right unit will ensure reliable storage of the vaccines. It has to give you the confidence that 
the inside temperature is strictly maintained.