Tough to Keep Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine at -70 Degrees: AIIMS Director

New Delhi: Even as the Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has shown encouraging results during the trials, the requirement of ultra-low temperature to keep the vaccine safe seems to be a challenging task for the countries.

According to AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria, the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine needs to be kept at -70 degrees Celsius and such logistics could be difficult to arrange in India.

“Pfizer vaccine has to be kept at -70 degrees Celsius, which is a challenge for developing countries like India where we will have difficulties in maintaining a cold chain, especially on rural missions. Overall, it is encouraging news in vaccine research for those in Phase III trials,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, the US drug maker said that the vaccine has been developing with German partner BioNTech SE was 90% effective against COVID-19, based on an early look at results from its large, late-stage trial.