FDA eases Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shipping, storage temperatures

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Thursday it is allowing more flexible shipping and storage temperatures for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The change permits transportation and two-week storage at -25 degrees Celsius to -15 degrees Celsius, which is often found in pharmaceutical freezers and refrigerators. 

The vaccine was first authorized to be stored in an ultra-cold freezer at temperatures between -80 degrees Celsius and -60 degrees Celsius, and can remain stored at these temperatures for up to 6 months. They are shipped in specially-designed thermal containers that can be used as temporary storage for a total of up to 30 days by refilling with dry ice every five days.  The ultra cold chain requirement for Pfizer’s vaccine has been a significant logistical snag in the country’s vaccination campaign. Thawed vials cannot be refrozen, and reports have documented wasted vials as they spoiled, amid a backdrop of limited supply issues nationwide. In some cases, providers scrambled to administer doses before the jabs spoiled, also true for Moderna, sometimes resulting in vaccinations among lower-priority individuals.