This is very good news that will make Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine much easier to distribute and use. Last but not least, vaccination work in municipalities will be simpler, says Geir Bukholm, director of infection control at the National Institute of Public Health.
The BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine should normally be stored in special freezers at -70 degrees. What is currently changing to an EMA is the fact that unopened vials can be stored in refrigerators that maintain a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees, up to a month of time.
- With the increase in the number of doses ordered to Norway in the future, the extended storage time in refrigerators will allow municipalities to vaccinate throughout the week. In addition, the vaccine is less likely to be lost due to prolonged refrigeration, Bukholm explains.
Vaccination plan and family doctor
The National Institute of Public Health provides professional guidance on the implementation of the national vaccination program. Norwegian Institute of Health The public makes recommendations about the goals of the vaccination program and who the target groups for vaccination are. NIPH also provides recommendations on who should be prioritized when there are not enough vaccines for everyone in target groups. It is the government that decides on goals and priorities.
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The GP will contribute to ensure that priority-listed residents are offered a COVID-19 vaccine. The obligation is temporary and only applies to vaccination against COVID-19 (§ 6a). The involvement of family doctors should follow the individual plan of the municipality, the guidelines in force at the time for the people to be vaccinated and how the vaccination is to be carried out in the municipality.
This will also apply to those residing in Norway
When assessing whether the commune is obliged to vaccinate persons temporarily staying in the commune pursuant to para. 1 of the provisions, a detailed assessment of the length of stay should be made. Very short stays, eg in connection with a business trip or a holiday stay, do not meet the requirement of temporary stay in accordance with § 1. Vaccination under the vaccination program is a complex logistic activity, and the vaccine is currently a scarce commodity.
