Health Canada approves storage of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine at standard refrigerated temperatures for up to 30 days
Published May 19, 2021 at 10:01 pm
Health Canada has approved more flexible storage options for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine.
The Department has approved a submission from the company that would allow for vaccines to be stored at regular refrigerated temperatures, 2°C to 8°C, at the point of use for up to one month.
This will make storing the vaccine more accessible, and allow for more flexibility when it comes to distribution plans.
Health Canada received the submission on May 10, and, after conducting a thorough review, the Department determined the vaccine remains stable when stored at standard refrigerated temperatures for 31 days.
Initially, the vaccine was required to be stored at -80°C to -60°C and thawed undiluted vials could be stored in the refrigerator for only up to 5 days, which made transporting and distributing the vaccine more challenging.
“Health Canada will continue to monitor the safety, efficacy and quality of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, along with all other COVID-19 vaccines, and will not hesitate to take action if any concerns are identified,” reads a statement from the Department.
