DOH urges caution on Pfizer vaccine efficacy, storage challenges

The Department of Health (DOH) advised the public to manage expectations regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, despite early reports of 90% efficacy.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire emphasized the need for continued vigilance and adherence to health standards, rather than fear of the virus.

Vergeire stated that while the Pfizer vaccine results are encouraging, it's crucial to remain grounded as the vaccine is still under development.

The DOH also highlighted the significant challenge posed by the ultra-cold storage requirement of -70 to -80 degrees Celsius for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) about potentially converting the vaccine into a powder form to mitigate extreme temperature storage issues, though this has not yet been elaborated upon by vaccine experts.