First Look at the ‘Ultra-Low' Freezer for COVID-19 Vaccine in CT (-94 degrees)

NBC CT via MSN ^ | 12/09/20 | Dan Corcoran

[Libloather]

There is a lot that can go wrong between the manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine and when that vaccine actually gets into someone’s arm. Much of the challenge has to do with keeping those vaccines in crucial cold storage all along the way. Now, there is a clearer picture of what’s being done to keep this so-called “cold chain” intact in Connecticut.

**SNIP**

There is increasingly high demand for these ultra-low freezers because the vaccine made by Pfizer needs to be kept at -70 degrees Celsius (-94 degrees Fahrenheit). Meanwhile, the Moderna vaccine also needs to be kept frozen, but at -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Once we learned that Pfizer’s vaccine required such low temperatures, we then ordered ours immediately and were lucky enough to get it before the supply chain challenges showed up,” said Eadie.

Connecticut needs adequate cold storage for whatever vaccines come this way. Eadie said the purchase of his hospital’s new freezer certainly helps with capacity. Even though it is not a massive piece of equipment, it can hold a substantial amount of vials of vaccine.

“It has the capacity to holding 600,000 vials. So, technically, that’s enough for the entire state of Connecticut,” Eadie said.

[sipster]

mRNA is a subtype of RNA.
The significant difference is that most vaccines are not RNA based