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The United Parcel Service (UPS) has established its own dry ice production at its U.S. facilities and will distribute ultra-cold temperature freezers to help with COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts over the coming months.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar announced this week that distribution of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine could begin in mid-December pending authorization for emergency use of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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The vaccine, however, must be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit or less to be effective. The drug maker has developed special containers with dry ice to keep it cool for up to 15 days. Other messenger RNA vaccines, including the vaccine developed by Moderna, may also require dry ice for transport.
In preparation for distribution, UPS said on Tuesday it could produce up to 1,200 pounds of dry ice per hour near its Worldport air hub in Louisville, Ky., And could ship it within 24 hours. at US and Canadian hospitals and clinics.
“Improving our dry ice production capabilities dramatically increases the agility and reliability of our supply chain when it comes to managing complex vaccines for our customers,” said Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Healthcare, in a declaration. “Healthcare facilities in Louisville, Dallas and Ontario will ensure we have the capacity to produce dry ice to sufficiently pack and restock shipments as needed to keep products viable and efficient.
UPS has also partnered with freezer maker Stirling Ultracold to distribute freezers capable of reaching minus 112 degrees Fahrenheit to healthcare providers who do not have facilities to prevent vaccines from spoiling.
Federal officials said 6.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be distributed to states and territories by mid-December, with a target of 40 million doses distributed by the end of the year.
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