Complete Story
05/21/2021
News for Member Vaccine Providers
Are you an OAASC Member that has signed up to be a COVID vaccine provider? Below is the latest release from the Ohio Department of Health regarding Pzifer vaccine storage.
To: COVID-19 vaccine providers
From: Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Infectious Diseases, Immunization Program
Date: May 20, 2021
Subject: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be stored longer at refrigerator temperatures
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine now can be stored at standard refrigerator temperatures for up to a month after it is thawed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized extended refrigerator storage for the vaccine, simplifying receipt, storage, and administration of the Pfizer vaccine for all providers and healthcare workers handling the vaccine.
Previously, thawed, undiluted vaccine vials could be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Now, thawed, undiluted Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine vials can be stored in the refrigerator at 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius (35 degrees Fahrenheit to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to one month.
Providers who currently have Pfizer vaccine stored in standard refrigerators should note that vaccine will have a new Beyond-Use Date/Time (BUD) that is one month from the date it was placed in the refrigerator. Providers should add a label to reflect the cumulative refrigeration time. For example, if vaccine has been in the refrigerator for four days, a new label can be added to reflect adding up to a total of 26 days.
The FDA has updated the Pfizer vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) to help frontline workers understand the updated storage requirements.
“This change should make this vaccine more widely available to the American public by facilitating the ability of vaccine providers, such as community doctors’ offices, to receive, store and administer the vaccine,” Peter Marks, the director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.
UPDATED RESOURCE FOR VACCINE PROVIDERS
Visit the ODH COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Information Training page for additional information and resources. Call the ODH Provider Call Center between 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-844-9ODHVAX (1-844-963-4829) or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov.
For information about COVID-19:
coronavirus.ohio.gov
1-833-4-ASK-ODH
