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Most have to be refrigerated. Vaccines tend to be proteins and sugars which will denature (i.e. unfold or fall apart) if not stored properly. Though -80 is a l
by timr 8y ago
Most have to be refrigerated. Vaccines tend to be proteins and sugars which will denature (i.e. unfold or fall apart) if not stored properly.
Though -80 is a little extreme for a vaccine. That's the temperature most commonly used for long-term lab storage of samples. It's not a common storage capacity in first-world countries, let alone the third world.
- mnw21cam 8y agoThere are huge numbers of -80 freezers scattered all over first world countries in research labs and medical centres.
- timr 8y agoMost people do not get their vaccinations at medical research labs. Your corner pharmacy doesn't have one, nor do most doctors' offices.
- mmt 8y agoI don't think the question is whether or not the absolute total number of them in all first world countries is "huge" (which I doubt), but, rather, if they're common. Would a small, rural hospital have even one? If they do and it breaks, could they rent a replacement (even off-site) while awaiting repairs? For that matter, could even a small research lab do so in a large city? I'd expect those answers to be "yes" for equipment we consider to be common in industries like restaurants and construction.
- Fomite 8y agoI don't know about the hospital (though I expect the answer is yes), but there's four or five -80 freezers within walking distance of me, and that's for a rural university. A small research lab in a large city could likely replace theirs quickly, or beg/borrow replacement space from another lab.