Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 15: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today urged authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to set up adequate cold storage facilities for COVID-19 vaccine as the storage and distribution of the vaccine is going to be challenging.
“Most COVID-19 vaccines need extremely cold temperature for storage and transportation,” DAK President Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said.
“Pfizer vaccine recently has been found to be more than 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID-19 infection raising hopes of a potential end to the nearly year-long pandemic,” he said.
He said that the vaccine which is based on a novel technology that uses synthetic messenger RNA to activate the immune system against the virus needs to be kept at minus 70 degree Celsius or below to ensure the vaccine remains potent and safe.
DAK President said this poses a challenge for distribution and storage as most hospitals do not have storage facilities for a vaccine at that ultra-low temperature.
“Without a proper cold chain facility, vaccine faces the risk of being exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range, resulting in a reduction in potency and wastage,” he said.
Dr Nisar said there is a need to create infrastructure and put in place logistics required for storage before the vaccine becomes available for public use which is expected by the end of this year. “Specialized freezers, known as ultra-cold freezers that go down to minus 80 degree Celsius are needed for storage and transportation of the vaccine,” he said.
He said that with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing overcapacity and economies struggling to reopen, “we now have a remedy in the offing,” he said.
“Till the vaccine becomes available, people should continue with the best tools that we already have – social distancing, wearing masks and washing your hands,” he said.
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