The Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) on Thursday said its member-companies are willing to ramp up their ultra-low temperature freezer (ULT) capacities if the government is keen on procuring vaccines that need a storage temperature of -80°C.
CCAP member and Royal Cargo Inc. President Elmer Sarmiento disclosed this during a webinar organized by the Philippines Graphic and the BusinessMirror entitled “Sparking Hope: Will a Vaccine See An End to the Pandemic?” in partnership with the Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP).
Sarmiento explained that some CCAP member-companies have ULT freezers that could store vaccines such as that of Pfizer that requires a temperature of as low as -80°C, which is as cold as winter in Antarctica.
“Some of our own members have ULTs that can also [store these vaccines] but please note we have only limited capacities. And right now, if we have the clear direction as far as this requirement is concerned, some members are ready to commit such requirements,” he said.
Sarmiento also expressed support toward the government’s vaccine road map, noting that CCAP would “align” their actions according to the government’s action plans in the procurement and distribution of the much-awaited Covid-19 vaccines.
“We in the private sector, in the cold chain association, will conform and align ourselves with regards to the road map and depending on the actions plans and procurement procedures. We are ready to support the government in its quest to distribute and put the vaccines to everybody,” he said.
The CCAP earlier told the BusinessMirror that the industry has more than enough capacity to store Covid-19 vaccines like AstraZeneca and Moderna. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/25/cold-chain-firms-can-host-covid-vaccines/)
CCAP President Anthony S. Dizon said storing vials needed to vaccinate 60 million Filipinos or even 100 million, would require fewer than 1,000 pallets as against the group’s cumulative capacity of 500,000 pallets.
The Philippines needs to vaccinate at least 60 million Filipinos to develop herd immunity against Covid-19.
However, Dizon explained that this capacity is applicable to vaccines manufactured by AstraZeneca, which require a 2°C to 8°C storage temperature and Moderna’s that needs -20°C temperature.