Maine May Lose More Than 4K Doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Due to Improper Transport

More than 4,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on their way to Maine may need to be discarded because they did not arrive frozen. Moderna’s vaccine must be kept at -13°F to 5°F to ensure viability. Maine public health officials note the problem was in the packing or shipping of the vaccines, and thus may affect other states as well. The Moderna vaccine is manufactured in Massachusetts and is then distributed to a variety of different sites from which courier companies make deliveries. Each box includes a thermometer on the outside so that temperature can be closely watched. It remains unclear whether the doses will need to be disposed of as the Moderna vaccines can be refrigerated at temperatures between 36°F and 46°F for up to 30 days once opened. Click here to read more.