Covid-19: Morocco receives U.S. ultra-cold chain freezers, enhancing vaccine storage capacity

The U.S. government has donated Morocco seven ultra-cold chain freezers, which will strengthen the country’s storage capacity of vaccines against Covid-19.

The announcement was made by Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In a tweet posted Tuesday, Mrs. Samantha said the ultra-cold freezers will help Moroccan health authorities keep doses safe and effective.

In its vaccination campaign, Morocco is using a variety of vaccines including Pfizer which can be stored for up to nine months in an ultra-cold freezer, between -80 and -60°C. Once it has been moved to a fridge, it must be used within 31 days and cannot be refrozen.

So far, over 23 million people have been fully vaccinated in Morocco, 24.6 million received their first dose of the vaccine, while nearly 4 million others have received a third booster jab.