During the COVID-19 crisis, innovative mRNA vaccines stepped into the spotlight, with media outlets reporting on every stage of their development, distribution and delivery to patients. These new mRNA vaccines had to be kept cold throughout their shipment and storage: the original formulation of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, for instance, required ultra-low temperatures (between −90 °C and −60 °C). The mRNA vaccines’ temperature requirements raised new questions for public health officials: how could pharmacies, clinics and other sites gain access to the high-performance freezing and storage technology needed to maintain the quality and safety of these highly sought-after vaccines?
