By Tom Polansek CHICAGO, Dec 3 (Reuters) - U.S. meatpacker
By Tom Polansek
CHICAGO, Dec 3 (Reuters) – U.S. meatpacker Smithfield Meals has provided to assist well being officers distribute COVID-19 vaccines and retailer them in ultra-cold freezers which can be in excessive demand to help a vaccination marketing campaign, the corporate’s chief administrative officer stated on Thursday.
U.S. states, cities, and hospitals are scrambling to purchase freezers that may safely retailer Pfizer Inc’s PFE.N COVID-19 vaccine at temperatures of minus 70 Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit), considerably under the usual for vaccines of 2-Eight C (36-46 F).
Smithfield, owned by China’s WH Group 0288.HK, has a number of ultra-cold freezers. The corporate is “prepared and keen to help well being businesses ought to storage capability turn out to be constrained,” stated Chief Administrative Officer Keira Lombardo.
“Because it turns into extra clear that profitable vaccines will turn out to be out there, we now have communicated our capabilities and continued willingness to companion with well being officers, together with with vaccine distribution and storage,” she stated in a press release to Reuters.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Modifying by Bernadette Baum)
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