Do we still need to have hourly checks of the refrigerator temperature?

Does Pfizer need to be kept in the fridge after punctured?

curious - why can it only be kept in the freezer for a shorter time than refrigerator?

Can you transport to other sites pre-drawn to minimize waste?

Hi Liz, Temperatures need to be monitored twice a day, once at the start of the workday and then again about 30 mins before you leave for the day. We also recommend the use of a Digital Data Logger that can record the min/max temperature and that should be noted on the temperature log as well. Here is a link to the refrigerator storage temperature log (Fahrenheit): https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/refrigerator-storage-logger-fahrenheit.pdf Now if you are transporting vaccine we do have a temperature log for transport and vaccine should be monitored hourly. Here is the transport log: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/transport-temperature-log.pdf. We will detail this out in our email so that everyone will have these resources.

@Toni L. Thank you for that question and we will be sure to include this in our email out as well but a punctured vial of Pfizer vaccine may be stored at 2°C to 25°C (36°F to 77°F) for up to 6 hours. So it can be stored at room temperature up to 77 degrees but must be used within 6 hours. If it is not used you must discard the vaccine after 6 hours. Again, we will send this out in a wrap up email with the recording and the slides.

Thanks! The dosing and admin guide from CDC said something about 2 hours at room temp, so I wanted to clarify!

with Pfizer vaccine, the 2 week freezer temps -25 --15 C, can it be stored in freezer that runs a bit colder at -16 F?

@PWells, we will need to look into your question further and will see what we can find out about this. The big reason that I can think of right now is this is how it was studied and data has been collected on these temperature ranges. The guidance is based on how they studied the vaccine and then is updated over time as they receive new information. Hence why we see so many updates with storage and handling of COVID-19 vaccines.

Can unpunctured vaccine be returned to refrigeration after being at room temperature? If so, does the time period when it returns to room temperature start or over or is it cumulative?

@RitterJ--we will send this question as well in the follow up email. There is guidance from USP: https://www.usp.org/covid-19/vaccine-handling-toolkit that discusses transporting predrawn vaccine. It is not typically recommended. Andrea is doing this question now. You can find this information in the USP guidance in the link above.

For clinics that are not open 24/7, is remote temperature monitoring or excursion alerting required? I realize remote monitoring would be preferred.

@ToniL--we will be sure to clarify in the email this for you.

@MagoonNK we will detail this out further in our follow up email but if it falls out of the temperature range it would be considered and excursion and would need additional follow up. However, we are going to ensure that we clarify this in our follow up email.

@Aubrey This is a great question and one that can be confusing with the 3 vaccines. What we are going to do with this is detail it out in our follow up email.

@Heidi - Thanks! just sounds so backwards to have to take it out of the freezer at 2 weeks then leave it in the refrigerator for a month.

checcimms@michigan.gov

thank you! always super helpful information!

Thank you ladies!