The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has recently approved wider storage and transportation conditions for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Australia (COMIRNATY - BNT162b2).

These changes will enable greater flexibility in storage, transport and deployment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine across Australia.

While longer term storage at dry ice or ultra-cold temperatures (-90C to -60°C) is still required, for unopened vials, storage and transportation at domestic freezer temperatures (-25°C to -15°C) is now permitted for up to 2 weeks.

Vials stored or transported in this manner can also be returned to ultra-cold longer term storage within the original shelf life of the product.

In addition, unopened vials can now be stored for up to 5 days at domestic refrigerator temperatures (2°C to 8°C). Within this 5 day period, up to 12 hours may be used for transportation, but the time used for transport of unopened vials at refrigerator temperatures counts against the 5 day limit for storage at 2°C to 8°C. Once thawed, COMIRNATY should not be re-frozen.