The CDC has tapped McKesson Corp. to be the central distributor of coronavirus vaccines. But Pfizer has decided to use its own networks instead.
The company stated this week that it will use its own transportation partners to implement a just-in-time delivery plan from manufacturing facilities and warehouses directly to end-users.
The issue of vaccine delivery is especially critical for Pfizer because its vaccine candidate must be stored in temperatures near minus 75 degrees Fahrenheit — much colder than typical vaccines.
Facing concerns that the U.S. does not have enough deep freezers to manage these vaccines, Pfizer has innovated a new thermal cooler that comes equipped with data monitoring. The company says that the container is about the size of a suitcase and uses dry ice to maintain ultra-cold temperatures. After being opened, the vaccine vials will reportedly be able to be stored in normal refrigerators for up to five days — or the dry ice can be replaced to extend storage time in the container for up to 15 days.
Pfizer will also use real-time data monitoring to track when shipments are opened and get temperature updates.
Read the Yahoo Finance report.
Check out Pharma Manufacturing’s podcast, “Off Script,” featuring an interview with PwC’s Omar Chane about the various issues surrounding vaccine distribution in the U.S.
