Pfizer South Africa is busy developing a vaccine for the Coronavirus that is still having a devastating impact around the world. They are in-fact a long way down the road with the vaccine. It was reported on the 18th of November that they were days away from requesting FDA approval.
This is good news but a new challenge is on the horizon for many countries. Storing and transporting the vaccine at the correct temperature is essential for it to be effective. The problem is that routine vaccines normally need to be stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. The Coronavirus vaccine has to be stored at minus 70°C.
South Africa and other African countries do not have the cold chain system in place to store and transport these vaccines at these extremely cold temperatures. The challenge with African countries is reaching the rural hospitals and clinics and the cost associated with this. South Africa cannot afford to purchase the equipment necessary to put the correct cold chain system in place.
As a result, Pfizer/BioNTech is considering vaccines in the form of frozen powders that a liquid can be added to. These freeze-dried vaccines can be stored at the temperatures South Africa is already prepared for.
However, the United Nations has three goals in place and their third goal is for good health and well-being for all people. They are calling for World Leaders to act together to ensure that all countries have the opportunity to provide vaccines for all their citizens.