International
pti-Madhuri Adnal
New York, Feb 19: New data indicate the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and German partner BioNTech could be stored for two weeks without the ultracold storage currently required, potentially making its use a bit easier.
The companies said Friday they’ve submitted findings from ongoing stability testing to the US Food and Drug Administration, which has authorised the vaccine’s emergency use in the US, and will send the data to regulators around the world in the next few weeks. The companies want regulators to update temperature requirements to state the vaccines can maintain their potency for two weeks if kept at -13°F to 5°F (-25°C to -15°C), as an additional option.
Freezers and refrigerators used in many pharmacies and hospitals commonly chill to those temperatures — but not to the temperature range currently authorised, from -112°F to -76°F (-80°C to…