Storage and handling
Storage and handling requirements for Covid-19 vaccines8,10,15,16,17
| BioNTech/Pfizer | AstraZeneca | Moderna | |
| Indicated age** | ≥16 years | ≥18 years | ≥18 years |
| Platform | mRNA | viral vector | mRNA |
| Pack | 195 x 2ml vials containing 0.45ml (5 doses) concentrate | 10 vials of either: 5ml (10-dose), or 4 ml (8-dose) |
Multidose vial with 10 doses |
| Storage prior to use | Between -90C/-80C to -60C prior to use. Thaw to 2C to 8C. Shelf life is then 5 days |
Store at 2C to 8C. Do not freeze. Shelf life 6 months |
-25C to –15C. Can store at 2C to 8C for up to 30 days. Unpunctured vials may be kept at between 8C and 25C up to 12 hours |
| Storage when vaccinating | Store at between 2C to 25C, and discard 6 hours after opening | Store at between 2C to 25C, and discard 6 hours after opening | Store at between 2C to 25C, and discard 6 hours after opening |
| Requires dilution? | Yes. Only use unpreserved sodium chloride 9mg/mL (0.9%) solution for injection | No | No |
| Dose | 0.3ml (= 30mcg of BNT162b2 RNA) |
0.5ml (= 5 × 1010 viral particles) |
0.5ml (= 100mcg mRNA) |
| Site | Intramuscular in the deltoid muscle | Intramuscular in the deltoid muscle | Intramuscular in the deltoid muscle |
| Dosing interval between first and second dose (subject to JVCI recommendation) | ≥21 days | 4-12 weeks | 28 days |