Once a POU receives a thermal shipper with our vaccine, they have three options for storage:
Ultra-low-temperature freezers, which are commercially available and can extend shelf life for up to six months.
The Pfizer thermal shippers, in which doses will arrive, that can be used as temporary storage units by refilling with dry ice for up to 15 days of storage.
Refrigeration units that are commonly available in hospitals. The vaccine can be stored for five days at refrigerated 2-8°C conditions.
The shipper can maintain temperature for 10 days unopened which allows for transportation to markets globally to ensure all patients have access. Once opened, and if being used as temporary storage by a vaccination center, then it can be used for a total of 15 days with re-icing every five days.
After storage for 15 days in the Pfizer thermal shipper, vaccination centers can transfer the vials to 2-8°C storage conditions for an additional five days, for a total of 20 days. Once thawed and stored under 2-8°C conditions, the vials cannot be re-frozen or stored under frozen conditions.
The various storage options at the POU allow for equitable access to the Pfizer vaccine to areas with differing infrastructure.