How cool is this? If it’s the new coronavirus vaccine that just arrived at the Norther Inyo Healthcare District today on Thursday, Dec. 17, it’s VERY COOL! As in Arctic temperature “cool.” The Pfizer vaccine must be stored at about minus-75 degrees Celsius. That is about 50 degrees colder than any vaccine currently used in the US. And that’s minus-103 degrees Fahrenheit for those of you that don’t speak metric.

Shown from left to right with the temperature-controlled shipping container are: NIHD pharmacists Frank Laiacona and Jeff Kneip, and Bri Chappell-McGovern, Disaster Preparedness/Prevention Specialist for Inyo County. (Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District)

According to clinical trial results, the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is 95 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. 

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Northern Inyo Healthcare District Thursday morning, signaling an historic moment in local response to the pandemic.

Northern Inyo Healthcare District Pharmacists Jeff Kneip and Frank G. Laiacona place the box of the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine into Northern Inyo Hospital’s ultra-low temperature freezer, which meets the proper storage requirements. (Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District)

According to NIHD, they received 975 doses of the vaccine, which will be shared with Mammoth Hospital. Distribution of the vaccinations under the public health departments of each county will follow the California Department of Public Health’s phased vaccination schedule.

Also, check out Dr. Timbers, NIHD’s Chief Medical Officer’s presentation to the NIHD board: https://www.nih.org/coronavirus-covid-19-/dr-timbers-vaccine-presentation/