BioNTech Commercial Director Sean Marett says the vaccine, called BNT162b2, is administered in the same way as many other vaccines. “The storage at minus 70 degrees is only necessary for long-term, months-long storage.”
Storage at very low temperatures can be an obstacle to the rapid implementation of vaccination programs. Among other things, Dutch GPs were concerned, because it would be impossible for normal GP practices to arrange freezer facilities with such low temperatures.
In addition to the five days that the vaccine can be kept in a normal refrigerator, the doses also keep well in special boxes for 15 days. Then it is necessary to refresh the ice. Once out of storage, the agent will last for up to six hours. This is because the doses must then be diluted with liquid before use.
Approved vaccine
The Pfizer and BioNTech corona vaccine is one of the most advanced vaccines against Covid-19 disease caused by the lung virus. In the UK, the vaccines can start next week now that the vaccine has been approved there. The companies expect the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue an emergency permit in mid-December for the use of the drug in the European Union and the United States, respectively.
What is still being investigated is how long the drug remains effective after the two required doses have been inoculated. For the time being, BioNTech researchers have only had insight into the effects during the course of the study, explained the head of medical affairs Özlem Türeci.
BioNTech is also investigating whether the vaccine, in addition to counteracting Covid-19 disease after a corona infection, can also prevent infections of the virus. Research results must provide a definite answer over the next three to six months, said CEO Ugur Sahin.
–