Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Pfizer says vaccine safe in normal freezers

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Feb, 2021 07:36 PM
  • Pfizer says vaccine safe in normal freezers

Pfizer and BioNTech say their COVID-19 vaccine can now safely be stored in regular freezers for up to two weeks, potentially easing some of the difficulty getting the vaccine distributed outside of major cities.

Pfizer's vaccine has been the trickiest to handle because until now the companies said it had to be kept frozen between -60C and -80C until shortly before it is thawed and injected.

The companies asked the United States to adjust the vaccine's emergency-use authorization to note the temperature change Friday and a Canadian spokeswoman says they intend to ask Health Canada to do so in the next few weeks.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu says Health Canada regulators are already in talks with the companies about the matter and will be ready to make a decision when the request comes.

Canada bought dozens of ultracold freezers to help provinces properly store the Pfizer vaccine and chose not to use this vaccine for the territories or other remote locations because of the freezer requirements.

In documents filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer and BioNTech say further testing shows the vaccine can remain stable for up to two weeks in temperatures between -15C and -25C, which is typical of more common freezers, including those used in pharmacies and medical clinics.

MORE National ARTICLES

Man dies following police involved shooting in East Vancouver

Man dies following police involved shooting in East Vancouver
Paramedics requested help with a 37-year-old man who was acting erratic and aggressive. The man had allegedly smashed the window to his room and was throwing large wooden objects out of the window onto the street.

Man dies following police involved shooting in East Vancouver

Mobile homes heavy power consumers: report

Mobile homes heavy power consumers: report
The study finds a mobile home that is about the size of an average apartment uses roughly the same amount of electricity as a townhouse twice its size.

Mobile homes heavy power consumers: report

Canada investigating timing of second vaccine dose

Canada investigating timing of second vaccine dose
Pfizer-BioNTech's product is supposed to be given in two doses 21 days apart, and AstraZeneca's in two doses 28 days apart.

Canada investigating timing of second vaccine dose

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces
Concerns have emerged, however, that the payment of up to $1,000 is being claimed by people who are quarantining because they travelled outside the country.

Speed up vaccines, Trudeau to tell provinces

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4% in December

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4% in December
Vancouver real estate agents sold 1,026 detached homes, a 71.3 jump from December 2019. The board says the composite home price in Vancouver ended the year at $1,047,400, up 5.4 per cent from the same time last year.

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4% in December

Powerful wind storm buffets coastal B.C

Powerful wind storm buffets coastal B.C
Environment Canada's weather office says gusts of up to 120 km/h are possible in northern regions before easing by noon while winds of 70 to 90 km/h are forecast to hit the south coast by midday.

Powerful wind storm buffets coastal B.C