January 20, 2021
According to the World Health Organization, as many as 50% of vaccines go to waste each year because of improper handling, including temperature control problems. With the new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna requiring storage at extremely low temperatures, addressing this issue is more critical than ever before.
The first round of COVID-19 vaccines have started to be distributed, so healthcare organizations need to act now to ensure they are ready to receive and administer these potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals. Already, hospitals are purchasing ultra-cold freezers designed to hold the vaccines at temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius.
However, they may be overlooking key components of their solution: power conditioning and emergency backup power for this critical equipment. In order to consistently maintain such low temperatures, the freezers consume a great deal of power. Should the power source be compromised for any reason, it puts the limited supply of vaccines at risk, something that could be disastrous at this critical juncture in the fight against the coronavirus.