All eyes now turn to Brexit.

Cross post MaizieD

How will the vaccine be distributed when refrigerated trailers usually only operate at -18 degrees C? Refrigerated storage boxes that can be tracked by GPS.

the vaccine will be transported in suitcase-sized storage boxes packed with dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) that have been specially designed by Pfizer. Each reusable box can hold between 1,000 and 5,000 doses at ultra-cold temperatures for up to 10 days. Pfizer said its vaccine can be kept for up to five days at fridge temperatures of 2-8C.

From all I have read the vaccine being discussed for earliest release needs to be stored and transported at below -70 centigrade.

But if, as GG13 has posted at 07:46 this morning, it's being transported in insulated containers of dry ice the internal temperature of the unit carrying it won't matter.

Did you miss that bit, Sara70?

Davidhs

Air transport isn’t a problem we have already adopted European regulations, the RAF have ample transport to move vaccines if needed and ample road transport is available. The bottleneck is vaccinating the population, large buildings are going to be needed for those mobile enough, those housebound or in care homes be slow progress.
The plan to vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable first should cut the death rate quickly.

If in regard to road transport using commercial haulage is being envisaged, refrigerated trailers freeze to a maximum of -15 to 18 degrees centigrade. From all I have read the vaccine being discussed for earliest release needs to be stored and transported at below -70 centigrade.

If the above is correct then the logistics of distribution will be a major problem perhaps impossible to solve for large scale usage.

MaizieD

Thank you GG13 and Davidhs for being better informed than me. It's appreciated ?

Yes, thanks.

I also read that vaccines will be transported by air, so there shouldn't be a problem with delivery.

Delivery and storage is more of a problem in developing countries, some of which don't even have adequate refrigeration for the drugs they're already using.

MaizieD

Thank you GG13 and Davidhs for being better informed than me. It's appreciated ?

All thanks to the BBC, I just happened to be paying attention for a change instead of being lost in a book.

Thank you GG13 and Davidhs for being better informed than me. It's appreciated ?

vegansrock

Biden won’t back anything that threatens the Good Friday Agreement as he has a lot of Irish supporters.

Yes he has and he is proud of his roots. Biden may come over as verging on the doddery but I think Johnson will find him a hard nut to crack and I can't see him sidelining Biden with his comedic Boris the Buffoon act.

Air transport isn’t a problem we have already adopted European regulations, the RAF have ample transport to move vaccines if needed and ample road transport is available. The bottleneck is vaccinating the population, large buildings are going to be needed for those mobile enough, those housebound or in care homes be slow progress.
The plan to vaccinate the elderly and vulnerable first should cut the death rate quickly.

* GO should read GP

I have just been listening to a GP on the BBC who said the vaccines will be packed in dry ice which is readily available.

The vaccines are viable for five days once removed from the dry ice, so once delivered to GO Surgeries/vaccination stations there will be 12 hour a day for five days of vaccinating people.

Talking about the chaos at Felixstowe!

I’d forgotten and have just been reminded that, guess who was paid £100000 to act as an advisor to Felixstowe 6 months ago?

Failing Grayling???????

He doesn’t usually take so long to cause chaos. Clearly failing even more.

biba70

lemongrove ''Nope...won’t happen.
I think we were always going to do a deal with the EU (and it isn’t over yet.)''

you got me really confused here. The Deal Mrs May put together was a much better deal than the one Johnson signed. Of course the best ever Deal was the one we had ...

So if we are not going to have Mrs May's Deal, nor the much worse Johnson's- which are we going to get now our situation is much more fragile than then?

Different deals, biba. May's 'deal' and Johnson's worse 'oven ready deal' were Withdrawal Agreement 'deals'.

The one we're waiting for now is a Trade Agreement - totally different.

Goodness knows where we're up to (if at all) on commercial air traffic, which needs agreement on certification, pilot qualifications, permissions to over fly EU states and probably a great deal else besides. How all this applies to military flights I've no idea.

GrannyGravy13

It is the containers the vaccine is packed in that need to be -74 regardless of the mode of transport biba70

The question I'm asking is, 'Do we have sufficient capacity in the correct containers, or whatever is used to keep the vaccines at the correct temperature, to transport, deliver and store the vaccines?'

It's no good buying 5million of them if they can't be distributed and stored at the point of use.

lemongrove ''Nope...won’t happen.
I think we were always going to do a deal with the EU (and it isn’t over yet.)''

you got me really confused here. The Deal Mrs May put together was a much better deal than the one Johnson signed. Of course the best ever Deal was the one we had ...

So if we are not going to have Mrs May's Deal, nor the much worse Johnson's- which are we going to get now our situation is much more fragile than then?

Thanks I didn't know. Do containers exist that can keep goods at a temps of minus 70C, about minus 100F. I mean a normal freezer is minus 18C.

However, that is if we are allowed to fly in and out of EU from Jan 1st- certainly not garanteed at the moment.

Absolutely lemongrove air freight would be quicker and easier whether it be commercial or Forces.

GG13 yes, that’s what I read too....which form of transport makes no difference at all.

It is the containers the vaccine is packed in that need to be -74 regardless of the mode of transport biba70

GrannyGravy13

Vaccines can be flown in on Army Transport Aircraft to any Army Base or commercial Airport. Quicker, more practical and far more secure regarding temperature control.

Can army planes keep goods at a temperature of about minus 100 F? Really? Link please.

MaizieD

Is the ability to keep products at -70 degreesC standard in refrigerated units? Or in the venues where the vaccine will be delivered?

Or is this a whole new crony contract in the making?

Undoubtedly

Is the ability to keep products at -70 degreesC standard in refrigerated units? Or in the venues where the vaccine will be delivered?

Or is this a whole new crony contract in the making?

GrannyGravy13

Vaccines can be flown in on Army Transport Aircraft to any Army Base or commercial Airport. Quicker, more practical and far more secure regarding temperature control.

Well that’s one thing to be grateful for

Vaccines can be flown in on Army Transport Aircraft to any Army Base or commercial Airport. Quicker, more practical and far more secure regarding temperature control.