Storing the COVID-19 vaccine

When the COVID-19 vaccine is shipped to your area, there are levels of protections to make sure the vaccine is as effective as possible. Edwardo Gonzalez, vaccine coordinator for the Florida Department of Health-Charlotte County, explains what happens a new shipment arrives.

“Once they’re in there, they can stay in there up to six months,” Gonzalez said. “When we have our clinics the following day, we will pull out what we’re going to use plus 10% more, just in case. I’ll let them defrost in the refrigerator, and it should be ready within three hours to use.”

Gonzalez showed WINK News the fridge and freezer where the vaccines are stored. Both storage units have temperature alert systems attached to them, so Gonzalez will receive a text message if it fluctuates. He says this is crucial, because the incorrect temperature could spoil the doses.

“It can damage the vaccine,” Gonzalez said. “Fortunately for us, temperature fluctuations do happen and we do have a backup generator just in case it does happen. Sometimes there can be refrigerator failure or freezer failure, which is not something you can determine; it just kind of happens on its own. So we have a backup for these, just in case that happens.”

Gonzalez says a dose is good for six months in the freezer, 30 days in the fridge and only six hours once you pop the cap on the vial.