# How does vaccine distribution work? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 23, 2020, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275 "2020-11-23T16:31:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/81 "2020-11-29T20:58:02Z")
I guess the premixed epoxy industry is going to have a boom when all those half price ultra cold freezers hit the used market next year. Lol. Do you mean not so rare as in, we can mostly shuffle around current supply? Or are we looking at another manufacturing push? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/82 "2020-11-29T21:02:58Z")
In that they are a regularly made item and ramping production won’t be a big deal. And, as I said, they can be repurposed. Just like the freezer in your home, the temperature can be adjusted. They can be used as normal freezers. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/83 "2020-11-29T21:04:00Z")
I would imagine they’re a tad bulkier than regular freezers, no? Eta: but I’m happy to hear it’s easily produced in quantity. Still, seems like a waste of money. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/84 "2020-11-29T21:07:25Z")
They aren’t much bulkier than normal industrial freezers. It wouldn’t look out of place in a restaurant or in the garage of a person who stores bulk meat. As a caveat, there may be special pharmaceutical requirements that I am unaware of. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/85 "2020-11-29T21:24:19Z")
The one we had in the medical lab i worked in in the 70s looked like every other chest freezer I’ve ever seen. I, too, have been surprised that people are excited about that particular requirement. Because we had one in an ordinary, not-at-all-wealthy research lab in an ordinary teaching hospital in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/86 "2020-11-29T21:45:06Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > One wonders if Pfizer is racing to get approval because they know that once there’s competition on the market, it’s unlikely many will opt for theirs. That’s not a given. I have heard that the Pfizer vaccine has a significantly higher effectiveness rating. So there will be people who will choose the Pfizer vaccine because it gives you surer protection. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/87 "2020-11-29T21:47:22Z")
But you need them in pharmacies and doctors offices. I’m not shocked to learn they are common in research labs. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/88 "2020-11-29T22:04:29Z")
They are common in hospitals and possibly large pharmacies like a Walgreens or CVS. It’s not a big deal in cities or large suburbs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/89 "2020-11-29T22:27:30Z")
The details of the decisions of who get priority might depend on which vaccine(s) get approved. Some vaccines might have differing effectiveness for some populations, and for the ones with logistical difficulties, some populations will be easier to meet those requirements (like, people who work in places that already have ultra-cold freezers, and large clusters of people in general where it’d be economical to bring in a freezer on a truck to have a “vaccine fair” for lots of people at once). As far as whether it’s more effective to vaccinate nursing home residents or staff, remember that even just buying time can be valuable. Even if vaccinating just the staff doesn’t provide the best protection for the residents, it probably will delay an outbreak among the residents, and in the time bought in that way, production will be increasing, and more groups of people will start to be vaccinated. Does that make it the best strategy overall? I don’t know. And hopefully the people making the actual decisions will be basing them on a lot better information than any of us on a message board have. I’m sure that the big agencies like the CDC have detailed models of disease spread and vaccinations that they can use to compare different strategies, and procedures for using those comparisons to find optimal strategies. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/90 "2020-11-29T22:50:05Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > They are common in hospitals and possibly large pharmacies like a Walgreens or CVS. It’s not a big deal in cities or large suburbs. I don’t believe the super cold (-80 Celsius) freezers are at all common in the pharmacy supply chain and at retail, the normal (-20) freezers are. McKesson Canada is one of the largest drug distributors in Canada and owns Rexall, I believe the second largest retail drug store in the country. As of last month they had a single ultra cold freezer in use. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/91 "2020-11-30T01:50:30Z")
I mean, I don’t trust the media in all things but I would be shocked if this was basic pharmacy equipment with the point they’re making of it. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/92 "2020-11-30T01:58:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Even if vaccinating just the staff doesn’t provide the best protection for the residents, it probably will delay an outbreak among the residents There is a possibility that the vaccine prevents symptoms in the vaccinated but does not give immunity or prevent transmission. If this is the case, immunizing the staff and not the residents could be a very bad idea. > **[Does the AstraZeneca Vaccine Also Stop Covid Transmission?](https://www.wired.com/story/does-the-astrazeneca-vaccine-also-stop-covid-transmission/)** > > Vaccines can prevent symptoms, but some can also keep people from spreading infection. That’s critical, and no one knows if the new vaccines do it. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/93 "2020-11-30T02:05:24Z")
The New York Times just posted that the Pfizer vaccine was arriving at a Chicago airport tonight. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/94 "2020-12-01T23:36:49Z")
In an unsurprising development, the CDC vaccine advisors voted 13-1 that health care workers and long-term care facility residents will be in the first group. The lone vote against was from a doctor who expressed concern that the vaccines were not adequately tested in the elderly. > **[Health care workers and long-term care facility residents should get Covid-19...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/01/health/cdc-acip-covid-19-vaccine-recommendation-vote/index.html)** > > CDC vaccine advisers recommend that both health care workers and residents of long term care facilities be first in line for any coronavirus vaccines that get emergency authorization from the FDA. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/95 "2020-12-02T00:52:20Z")
Apparently dentists and opticians may be trained to administer the vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/96 "2020-12-02T00:56:53Z")
Opticians? To hell with that. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/97 "2020-12-02T01:00:35Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > The lone vote against was from a doctor who expressed concern that the vaccines were not adequately tested in the elderly. He’s right. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/98 "2020-12-02T01:29:07Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > Opticians? To hell with that. Why on earth not? I’m sure anyone smart enough to be a decent optician can learn to administer a vaccine. Hell, i bet anyone who is a decent electrician could do it, too, or a decent chef, or… Really, the same is true for people on a lot of professions. But opticians already deal with the health insurance industry – which is a much steeper burden than learning to administer a vaccine. I mean, even administering the fussy Pfizer vaccine that needs careful temperature regulation and dilution isn’t rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/99 "2020-12-02T01:55:56Z")
Why on earth in the first place? There’s a bunch of health practitioners that are already conversant with giving shots. Dentists being one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275/100 "2020-12-02T01:56:59Z")
IM injections – which most vaccines are – are easier (in the “less chance to screw up” sense) to administer than subcutaneous injections. As a CNA I was taught to give SubQ insulin injections, and the RN’s who had to do IM jabs seemed to have less room for error – one RN even told me as much. I would have no problem with pretty much anyone giving me an IM injection, as long as they didn’t have shaky hands and possesed functioning eyesight. It isn’t that complicated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-vaccine-distribution-work/926275.md?page=6)