POTSDAM – St. Lawrence Health System (SLHS) now has an ultra-cool freezer capable of storing large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines.

In anticipation of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines, SLHS has been preparing to participate in an efficient and equitable distribution of the vaccine in close coordination with the New York State Department of Health and local health departments.

The leading COVID-19 vaccines are being developed by Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc. and will require stringent standards for refrigeration and handling.

“Assuming governmental approvals, the Pfizer product will likely be the first vaccine to be delivered. It must be stored at negative 94 degrees Fahrenheit,” stated St. Lawrence Health System President and CEO David Acker.

St. Lawrence Health System’s new ThermoScientific freezer is up and running in preparation of housing vials of the vaccine. Director of Pharmacy, David Sogoian, RPh, BS, reported the freezer is capable of holding 216 trays of Pfizer vaccine vials, with 195 vials per tray, for a total of 42,120 vials.

“Each vial of the Pfizer vaccine contains five doses, meaning this freezer can house 210,600 doses. St. Lawrence County has approximately 100,000 people, so we technically could house adequate vaccine doses for everyone in the County,” Mr. Sogoian said. “Although the arrival date of vaccines is yet to be determined, we are pleased to announce that this morning (Friday) we formally submitted our pre-order for Pfizer vaccines.”

SLHS is also coordinating vaccine efforts with our county and regional partners. Staging vaccination administrations on a large scale necessitates the use of facilities such as fieldhouses or auditoriums, which both Clarkson University and St. Lawrence University have offered to provide for the initial phases. Other similar venues are being identified in Massena and Gouverneur.

“Once available, St. Lawrence Health System will stagger distribution of the vaccine among priority healthcare workers,” Mr. Acker said. “The initial vaccines that will be distributed require two administrations; the Pfizer vaccine will be given 21 days apart, and the Moderna vaccine will be given 28 days between doses. It is hoped that there will be an adequate vaccine supply to enable all prioritized healthcare workers and long-term care residents to be vaccinated by the end of January, or early February 2021.”

Subsequent phases will address adult patients and employees at high risk of complications from a COVID-19 infection as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the NYS Department of Health. It would then extend to teachers, school staff and childcare workers, and critical workers in high-risk settings who can’t avoid high-risk exposure to COVID-19, such as those working in the food supply system, and public transit.

Pregnant women may be eligible for vaccination in the early administration category, and should consult with their obstetric care provider regarding the potential benefit of the vaccine balanced against the unknown possible risks.

Children will not be included in the first phase of vaccine distribution because they were not included in initial vaccine clinical trials. SLHS will await the data to ensure safety and efficacy in children upon receiving the vaccine.

“It is critically important that everyone remains vigilant in maintaining COVID-19 safety precautions as we prepare for effective vaccines to become widely available. Over the holidays, we need to continue following CDC and NYS DOH guidance and wear our masks, physically distance ourselves, avoid unnecessary travel, and be particularly careful when eating and drinking with others,” Mr. Acker said. “We are tremendously thankful for all our staff is doing to keep themselves, their families, and our community safe.”