[syhprum (OP)]

Is it likely that all the vaccine that will be injected be in good condition?

We have no experience of such an operation, and I rather have doubts...

[Bored chemist]

We have no exreience of such an operation

Yes we do.
Cold storage and delivery is commonplace.

[alancalverd]

I have a fridge full of stuff at 2-5 deg C and a freezer at about -10C. I regularly deal with the transport of  pharmaceuticals packed in dry ice at -79C and used to buy gallons of liquid nitrogen (77K) and liquid helium (4K). What's the problem?   

[Petrochemicals]

I have a fridge full of stuff at 2-5 deg C and a freezer at about -10C. I regularly deal with the transport of  pharmaceuticals packed in dry ice at -79C and used to buy gallons of liquid nitrogen (77K) and liquid helium (4K). What's the problem?   

Get on to them Alan, they could do with your help.

https://www.marketwatch.com/amp/story/pfizer-and-biontechs-covid-19-vaccine-wins-u-k-approval-rollout-to-begin-next-week-11606903369

[alancalverd]

They seem to be doing pretty well so far. Only reported problem is some dithering at the receiving end as to whether additional authorisation is required to break down the bulk packs.

Apparently the Scottish government has adopted common sense on the grounds that you can't use the stuff in a freezer, but NHS admin in England and Wales is awaiting confirmation of the bloody obvious before taking it to nursing homes. If they'd applied the same caution to moving infectious patients into nursing homes, we wouldn't have a problem.

[Salik Imran]

the transport of  pharmaceuticals packed in dry ice at -79C

True. If there is a shortage of ultra-low tempreture storage, they can use dry ice as an alternative, but only for about a few days. I think the "sell by date" for the vaccines at room temperature is a few days(off the top of my head). Those vaccinaters will need to work fast...

Get on to them Alan, they could do with your help.

Have you joined yet?

[alancalverd]

The intention is to work as fast as possible. The medical business is quite used to handling radionuclides with half lives of a few minutes to a few hours and transplant organs that require rapid transit  in flowing liquids.

I'm not near the front line these days, but rather busy developing a low-cost instant-read test for exhaled COVID virus.