The length of time that Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine can be stored unopened in a refrigerator has been reduced from five days to one month.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) had previously indicated that the vials should be stored at an ultra-low temperature, between minus 70 ° C and minus 80 ° C, until a few days before use, when they are to be used. can be transferred to a standard medical refrigerator.
But the EMA said in a statement it had extended the approved storage period for an unopened thawed vial stored in the refrigerator at 2 ° C to 8 ° C from five days to one month.
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“The change has been approved following the assessment of additional stability study data submitted to the EMA by the Marketing Authorization Holder,” the agency said.
He added that increased flexibility in vaccine storage and handling is expected to have a “significant impact” on the planning and logistics of vaccine deployment in EU member states.
It comes just days after research suggested that a 12-week gap between doses of Pfizer dramatically increases the immune response in the elderly.
The antibody response in people over the age of 80 is three and a half times higher in those who receive the second dose after 12 weeks, compared to a three-week interval, the study conducted by the University of Birmingham , in collaboration with Public Health England, found.
BioNTech said on May 10 that there was no evidence its jab needs to be updated to protect against variants.
The UK government has ordered an additional 60 million doses of the vaccine as part of its plans for a booster program this fall.
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-05-18 06:17:00
