Vaccine Freezer Arrives At University of Maryland Medical Center

BALTIMORE, MD — The University of Maryland Medical System received its first ultra-cold freezer Thursday for storing the Pfizer's vaccine for the coronavirus.

The medical system is anticipating additional freezers in the days ahead as it waits for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the vaccine.

The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted Thursday to recommend approval of Pfizer's request for emergency use authorization for its vaccine, which is one step in the process. According to Pfizer, the FDA could make its final decision within days.

"If approved, which we anticipate it will be, we believe that the initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine will become available for Maryland as early as the week of Dec. 14 or next week," Maryland Deputy Health Secretary Jinlene Chan said at a news conference this week. She said the state anticipates getting 50,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Once the vaccine is available, the University of Maryland Medical System reports it is working with the Maryland Department of Health ensure front-line health-care workers can receive it.

The plan is for the initial distribution to occur across the 13-hospital system next week, Michael Schwartzberg, spokesperson for the University of Maryland Medical System, said in a statement Thursday, announcing the arrival of the special freezer.

Having the freezer makes it possible for the medical system to store the Pfizer vaccine, which is shipped at minus 80 degrees Celsius, according to Maryland Deputy Director of Hospitals Bryan Mroz, who said it requires ultra-low temperatures for storage.

See Also:

• First MD Coronavirus Vaccines Could Arrive Next Week: Officials
• 'Our State Is In A Dangerous Place': MD Coronavirus Expert