A peak into Vietnam’s first super-cold COVID-19 vaccine storage

The super-cold vaccine storage is currently housing the first 117,600 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine that arrives in Vietnam on February 24.

Jasmine Le

lehang1997hanu@gmail.com February 25, 2021 | 11:51

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A peak into Vietnam’s first super-cold COVID-19 vaccine storage

(Photo: VNE)

The storage is owned by Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) and UK’s biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. According to VNE, the 117,600 doses is the first batch of the 30-million-doses contract between VNVC and AstraZeneca Group to arrive in Vietnam. Other batches will be delivered later soon.

(Photo: VNE)

The staff uses specialized vehicles to transport the vaccine (divided in 10 packages) into the cold storage minutes after necessary procedures are completed. All the doses are thoroughly checked prior to storage.

(Photo: VNE)

The super-cold storage has strict regulations in line with GSP standards to keep the vaccines at required temperature. It’s well-noted that all workers must strictly comply with GSP and GDP regulations, as well as wear personal protective gear, and follow anti-pandemic measures.

(Photo: VNE)

AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine is refrigerated at 2-8 degrees Celcius and stored in the multilayer-locked room. The vaccine can be stored, transported and handled under normal refrigeration (2-8 degrees C) for at least 6 months, which facilitates usage under existing medical facility conditions.

(Photo: VNE)

On top of that, VNVC’s three super-cold storages can accommodate other vaccines requiring ultra-cold temperatures, including Pfizer-BioNTech which must be refrigerated at minus 70 degrees C. All three storage systems are equipped with a GSM alarm system, a wireless security product and remote device control. The system uses cold gas and cascade refrigeration, which involves two or more vapor-compression cycles with different refrigerants.

(Photo: VNE)

“We’re proud to be the first unit in Vietnam qualified enough to import, store, supply and distribute a wide range of COVID-19 vaccines for inoculation. The most decent manpower are deployed to operate the super-cold storage system in line with specific requirements”, Tran Thi Trung Trinh - quality control director at VNVC, was quoted by VNE.

(Photo: VNE)

Deputy Minister of Health Truong Quoc Cuong said Vietnam and Thailand were the two first ASEAN countries to get AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. “Vietnam will do its best to get the other batches in the soonest time to timely vaccinate residents”, he said. On January 24, Cuong has inspected the preservation of Covid-19 vaccine at VNVC cold storage.

AstraZeneca vaccine is currently available in over 50 countries. It’s developed based on vector virus technology, using modified flu viruses from chimpanzees. COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca does not contain the virus itself and cannot cause COVID-19.

COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is given as two injections, usually into the muscle of the upper arm. The second dose should be given between 4 and 12 weeks after the first dose.

Its protective efficacy ranges from 62-90 percent, depending the dose administered.

(Photo: VNE)

Vu Thu Ha, System Supply Manager of VNVC said AstraZeneca and VNVC have carefully checked the data of the batch during the production and transportation process.

“VNVC is proud to be a part of Vietnam’s COVID-19 containment effort. Along with the 30 million doses, VNVC is in talks with foreign manufacturers for more vaccine under the auspices of the Ministry of Health”, Ha told VNE. “The country is also preparing the best conditions to deploy Covid-19 inoculation program”.

(Photo: VNE)

In the photo is one of VNVC’s cold storagewith temperatures kept at 2-8 degrees C.

Vietnam detected nine cases of COVID-19 to 18:00 on February 24, all in the northern province of Hai Duong, raising the tally of domestic infections to 1,513. No new cases found this morning

According to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, among the latest cases, six are reported in areas under lockdown in Kim Lien commune, Kim Thanh district, two in Cam Giang district who had been quarantined earlier, and one in Thanh Ha district who was also put under quarantine. The patients are being treated at a COVID-19 hospital in Hai Duong city.

The same day, 30 COVID-19 patients have been given the all-clear. In a bid to live safely with the pandemic, people should strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration).

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