How a change in the Pfizer shot’s storage temperature could completely alter vaccine access

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 – by John McHutchion

Here’s what you need to know to get the day started:

How a change in the Pfizer shot’s storage temperature could completely alter vaccine access

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can now be stored at typical refrigerator temperatures in Europe for weeks longer than previously thought, in a shift with major implications on the rollout of vaccines across Canada and the world.

The European Medicines Agency now says unopened, thawed vials of the vaccine can be stored at temperatures between 2 and 8 C for a total of 31 days, up from the previously approved five days, after it analyzed additional data from Pfizer on the stability of the vaccine.

The vaccine is typically stored at temperatures between –80 C to –60 C in Canada. Health Canada currently allows thawed Pfizer vaccines to be kept at fridge temperatures for up to five days. Following the European decision, a submission is now "under review" to introduce a "similar change to the Pfizer storage conditions in Canada," a spokesperson for Health Canada said in a statement to CBC News.

Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious diseases physician at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and an associate professor at McMaster University, says changes to how the thawed vaccine is stored could break down barriers to access in Canada — especially as second doses roll in.

He says a longer storage time would allow family physicians, homeless shelters, pharmacies, jails, pop up clinics and eventually schools to keep Pfizer vaccines longer and potentially administer more doses.

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases physician at Toronto General Hospital and member of Ontario's COVID-19 vaccine task force, said the change in storage temperature would also make the vaccine easier to transport outside Canada's major urban centres.

"By mitigating these cold chain limitations, you can just more readily get this vaccine out to more places," he said. "It just basically makes this vaccine much more usable and much easier to scale to larger populations."

More on this issue

How Canada's vaccines make it from the factory to your arm.

Watch: The advantages and challenges of COVID-19 vaccines for youth.

Surge of migrants

(Bernat Armangue/The Associated Press)

A migrant is comforted by a member of the Spanish Red Cross near the border of Morocco and Spain, at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Tuesday. A city of 85,000 in northern Africa, Ceuta faces a humanitarian crisis after thousands of migrants took advantage of relaxed border controls in Morocco to swim or paddle in inflatable boats to European soil. The migrant in this photo was sent back to Morocco by Spanish security forces.

In brief

Quebec's premier says life will start returning to normal gradually, with the province’s current curfew lifting on May 28. Masks will no longer be mandatory in most situations in the province by the end of August. "This is a big day. A big step," François Legault said with a smile yesterday. As of May 28, eating on patios and decks outside of restaurants will be permitted, groups of up to eight will be allowed to gather outdoors on private property, and travel between regions within the province can recommence. The government also said indoor venues will be able to start hosting up to 2,500 patrons as of May 28, meaning some lucky fans will get to see the Montreal Canadiens play the Toronto Maple Leafs, if their playoff series goes to Game 6. On May 31, the vast majority of the province will be an "orange zone," which means indoor dining at restaurants will be allowed and gyms can reopen. All kids will be sent back to school full time as well. Read more on the easing of pandemic restrictions in Quebec.

A large wildfire is threatening homes and land north of Prince Albert, Sask. A state of emergency remains in effect for the city and the rural municipality of Buckland. Thirty-five homes have already been evacuated and hundreds of people are on standby in case they too need to leave. Steve Roberts, vice-president of operations for the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, said Tuesday the fire had grown to almost 3,700 hectares and was not contained. He said the weather forecast is for cooler temperatures over the coming days, which should help crews contain the fire. Read more on the situation near Prince Albert.

When the New York State Pension Fund said last month it was selling off securities in seven Canadian oilsands companies and would not make future investments in them because they don't have viable plans to adapt to a "low-carbon future,” Suncor was notably absent from that list. The fund decided Suncor still had its support, for now, and would be reviewed again next year. The fund's divestment on its own doesn't represent a lot of money for a sector worth billions of dollars. But it sends a powerful signal. The announcement highlights how investors are increasingly focused on climate change; it comes as efforts by environmentalists to reduce financial support for fossil fuels show no signs of abating. At the same time, it also shows how some large financial players still see some value in backing the oilpatch. Read more here on oilpatch disinvestment.

As the pace of vaccinations in Canada accelerates, so too will speculation about a federal election in the late summer or early fall. An early election call wouldn't leave a lot of time for Bill C-19 -- the government’s proposed changes to the Elections Act to make it easier to safely hold an election in a pandemic -- to become law. C-19 proposes giving the chief electoral officer the power to adapt provisions of the Elections Act, determine how voting can take place in seniors' residences and extend voting over three days. There are also provisions for secure drop boxes for mail-in ballots and measures related to the hours of voting. But C-19 remains in limbo. It passed second reading last week and is now mired in committee. It's not clear when it will move forward. Read more analysis from CBC Parliamentary reporter Éric Grenier.

The federal Conservatives are calling on the Liberal government to set a firm timeline for creating a national three-digit suicide prevention hotline. In December, the House of Commons voted unanimously in favour of a Conservative motion to create a national, three-digit suicide prevention line. Conservative MP Todd Doherty said he wants the Liberal government to act "immediately" to ensure Canadians whose mental health has been strained by the pandemic have somewhere to turn. In July 2020 , the Public Health Agency of Canada agreed to commit $21 million over five years to set up a pan-Canadian suicide prevention service that would offer 24-hour bilingual crisis support from trained responders via voice, text and online chat. Read more about the call for a national suicide prevention hotline.

Now for some good news to start your Wednesday: Mike Herzog is a federal public servant by day, but in the early hours of each morning through May, he's a mobile, one-man cheering section for the front-line health-care workers he calls heroes. He’s committed to running 14 kilometres each day around The Ottawa Hospital's General campus and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. His initiative is part of a larger volunteer movement called Ottawa Heroes. "I can't save lives, but at least I can support the people who are," said the 47-year-old. Herzog zips along sidewalks and bike paths carrying a bilingual sign of thanks. When he comes across hospital personnel in scrubs and lanyards during the 7 a.m. shift change, he calls out a heartfelt thank you. Read more here on Herzog’s way of saying thanks.

For stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole on climate, unions and unfavourable polls

In part two of a wide-ranging interview with the federal Conservative party leader, host Jayme Poisson asks Erin O'Toole why he campaigned against a carbon tax and then introduced a price on carbon, whether he supports a union at places like Amazon and why polling shows that young women aren't backing him.
Listen to today's episode

Today in history: May 19

1967: The Soviet Union ratifies a treaty with the United States and Britain, banning nuclear weapons from outer space.

1984: The Edmonton Oilers win their first of five Stanley Cups in seven years. They beat the visiting New York Islanders 5-2 to win the NHL final in five games.

1997: For the first time in four years, fishermen drop their nets for cod off southern Newfoundland. A small commercial fishery reopened off the south coast and in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence. The fishery had been completely closed in 1993 due to declining stocks.

2013: Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, resigns four days after the Prime Minister's Office disclosed he'd written a $90,000 cheque to cover the disallowed housing expenses of Sen. Mike Duffy.