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Concern Over COVID-19 Vaccine Freezer Space Might Be Overblown

The need for ultra-low-temperature freezers to store coronavirus vaccines might not present as much of a hurdle as some fear — for now.

The second approved vaccine, by Moderna, can be stored at around -4 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to Pfizer's required -94 F. That allows a wider range of storage options.

Should AstraZeneca's vaccine receive approval as well, those options could expand even further. It can remain stable at a comparatively balmy 40 F.

But as associate professor Kristen Parrish of Arizona State University's School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment explained, as long as the doses are in high demand, even their shipping containers provide enough temporary cold to keep them stable.

"Obviously we need to make sure that we have this capacity, and that we can store as much vaccine as we would feel that we need. However, you know, it's not a super critical issue right at the moment," she said.

Vaccines cannot be refrozen, however, so it is vital planners ensure all doses are used once thawed.

For now, that's a distribution and logistical issue. But eventually enough people will have received vaccines that storage will become more important.

"That's going to become a bigger consideration I'll say probably in 12 to 15 months, when it looks like people are getting this akin to a flu shot," said Parrish.

"They only have a six-month shelf life, even when they're stored in ultra-low temperature freezer."

Both ASU and the University of Arizona have ultra-cold space they can make available in a pinch, although much of it is currently dedicated to ongoing research projects.

But Parrish has noticed a significant delay in acquiring new units.

"We're looking at a two-to-three-month lead time to get these ultra-low temperature freezers. We used to be able to get them within a matter of weeks," she said.

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Nicholas Gerbis was a senior field correspondent for KJZZ from 2016 to 2024.