State medical officials lay out guidelines for proper storage and application of Pfizer vaccine

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – State health officials expect to receive 50,000 doses from Pfizer. Now, it’s a race against time to make sure the vaccine is stored and administered properly.

“You will get it at the 2-8 degree Celsius and it must remain at that temperature for the 120 hours,” says Christie Larmie, public health educator, immunization program with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) held a vaccine update about proper storage and application of the Pfizer vaccine Tuesday, Dec. 15.

“If you remove that from the refrigerator and the amber-colored bag, set it out, and you haven’t added the diluent yet, it is viable for two hours,” says Larmie.

Officials said the vaccine must be thawed out, given at room temperature and not shaken.

Hospitals are also given kits which include needles, syringes, record cards, and PPE like masks and face shields.

“This is such an incredibly dynamic and changing situation,” says Dr. Jonathan Temte, associate dean for public health and community engagement for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.

Wisconsin's Disaster Medical Advisory Board also met on Tuesday. They defined who is eligible for the vaccine during this phase as someone who interacts with patients who may transmit the virus and/or infectious material containing the virus.

Officials are constantly updating and meeting at least once a week to discuss protocols and any changes. There's also now an app called "V Safe" where people can record their symptoms in real time and send it directly to the CDC after receiving the vaccine.