"US FDA Likely to Allow Pfizer Vaccine Storage in Regular Freezers"...Expecting Increase in Vaccination Rate

"Efficacy Maintained for 2 Weeks in Standard Freezers at -25 to -15°C"
Ultra-Low Temperature Cold Chain Requirements Relaxed... Vaccination Speed Expected to Increase

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly about to allow Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to be stored in regular freezers. Until now, the Pfizer vaccine had to be stored in special freezers at temperatures below minus 70 degrees Celsius to maintain its efficacy, making handling complicated. With the possibility of storage in regular freezers, the speed of vaccine distribution is expected to accelerate.

On the 23rd (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that the FDA is likely to change its guidelines as early as that day to allow the Pfizer vaccine to be stored in regular freezers instead of special freezers. Until now, the Pfizer vaccine was known to require ultra-low temperature storage around minus 70 degrees Celsius to maintain efficacy, and the FDA had issued guidelines mandating storage in special freezers.

Earlier, on the 19th, Pfizer submitted new research results to the FDA showing that their vaccine can maintain efficacy for two weeks at standard freezer temperatures between minus 25 and minus 15 degrees Celsius, and requested a change in vaccine storage guidelines.

If the FDA approves standard temperature storage for the Pfizer vaccine, vaccine distribution and transportation will become easier, potentially increasing vaccination rates, the NYT anticipated. Last December in the U.S., several delivery issues occurred, including thousands of doses being returned due to special freezer malfunctions during transport, causing delays in distribution.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.