1/5 Today's COVID-19 vaccine logistics question is how and when will it be possible to break down the "large pizza boxes" of 975 Pfizer vaccines into smaller batches to use in care homes? Our latest understanding set out in short thread below.
2/5 This is a complex, highly specialised, task that can only be done in large sized -75C fridges. These are not usually found on hospital sites. So it needs to be done by appropriately expert wholesalers. In an analogy from the increasingly legendary Jonathan Van Tam....
3/5 It's not like taking a six pack of yoghurt out of your home fridge, breaking it up on the kitchen worktop, putting one in your bag, taking it to work and then storing it in the work fridge. Obviously vital to protect integrity of vaccine in this batch creation process.
4/5 This process is being set up right now. But we need to make sure that it is completely robust and effective. We understand colleagues @MHRAgovuk will be helping to check that the process is robust - thanks to them. We understand process setup will take 10-15 days to complete.
5/5 In the meantime 50 hospital hubs identifying as many care home workers and over 80s to start vaccinating from Tuesday. As JVT said, it's right we have a blended approach across the first two JCVI priority groups to make best use of first batch. Not an operational problem!
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