Cold Chain Technology: Vaccine Cold-Chain Requirements
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Cold Chain Technology: Vaccine Cold-Chain Requirements

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Sensors that calculate temperature excursions are available in packaging, storage, and transportation systems that have been specifically engineered and tested.

FREMONT, CA: The biopharmaceutical industry is well-versed in cold-chain distribution. It has developed supply chains for keeping biologic drugs at the appropriate temperature, which can vary from refrigerated temperatures (at 2–8 °C) for many vaccines to normal freezer temperatures (-20 °C), deep-freeze using dry ice (-70 °C), and even cryogenic temperatures (-150 to -273 °C). Sensors that calculate temperature excursions are available in packaging, storage, and transportation systems that have been specifically engineered and tested.

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However, distributing approved COVID-19 vaccines on a wide scale and in a timely manner is a new challenge faced by the rapid deployment of cold-chain technology like GPS-enabled monitoring and supply chain visibility systems.

Cold Chain Technology: Vaccine Cold-Chain Requirements

Regulated vaccines from Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca are now available in countries where they have been granted approval. The cold-chain conditions for these three vaccines are distinct. Pfizer and BioNTech said they would use a just-in-time distribution network to get shipments from the production site to the Point of Use (POU) in one to two days, using a frozen vaccine, BNT162b2, directly to the point of vaccination. The vaccine will be delivered in climate-controlled shippers with dry ice to keep the temperature between -70°C and 10°C for up to 10 days.

Vaccine administration sites could store the vaccines for six months in ultra-low temperature industrial freezers, for 15 days by filling shipping containers with dry ice and using them as temporary storage devices, or for five days by storing the vaccine at 2–8 °C in a refrigerator, according to the firms. Pfizer can use GPS-enabled sensors on the shipping containers to monitor position and temperature so that possible hazards, such as temperature excursions, can be identified and avoided. Pfizer said it was conducting pilot shipments to help fine-tune the distribution strategy.

Moderna said its vaccine, mRNA-1273, can be stored for up to six months at -20 °C, which is the normal temperature for home or medical freezers. Under the six-month shelf life, the company reports that mRNA-1273 will remain stable at normal refrigerated temperatures (2–8 °C) for up to 30 days. Adenovirus-based vaccines can be shipped and processed at 2–8 °C, according to AstraZeneca. This vaccine and those with fewer temperature needs will be easier to administer across the world. Vaccines from AstraZeneca and Moderna may be delivered using current facilities. About the fact that Pfizer's vaccine needs deep-freeze temperatures, the firm expressed optimism at the time of authorization that its delivery networks were ready to go, with shipments through existing carriers such as UPS and FedEx.

See also: Top Pharma Logistics Solution Companies

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