Monterey Bay Aquarium lends freezer to hospital to store COVID-19 vaccine - SF Gate

Monterey Bay Aquarium lends freezer to hospital to store COVID-19 vaccine - SF Gate


Monterey Bay Aquarium lends freezer to hospital to store COVID-19 vaccine - SF Gate

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 02:07 PM PST

News // Bay Area & State

Photo of Tessa McLean

The Monterey Bay Aquarium lent a freezer to the Natividad Hospital in Salinas to store the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium lent a freezer to the Natividad Hospital in Salinas to store the COVID-19 vaccine.

Yelp / Kim H.

A Salinas hospital received an early holiday gift on December 11 — an ultra-cold freezer that could store the Pzifer COVID-19 vaccine.

Freezers that can maintain ultra-cold temperatures like the minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit needed for the vaccine are in short supply, so the hospital got a loan from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, as reported by KPIX.

The Natividad Hospital in Salinas received the freezer just days before its initial 975 doses of the shot were delivered. Hospital officials told KPIX they originally planned to keep the vaccine on dry ice as they awaited delivery of a freezer purchased with the help of donations earlier this month.

"Ultra-cold freezers are in high demand across the country. We're honored to provide this freezer to the hospital while waiting to take delivery on its own," Dr. Mike Murray, a veterinarian at the aquarium, told KPIX.

The aquarium has been closed since March due to the pandemic.

While vaccines are being administered daily, COVID-19 continues to surge in the state of California. There was a 38% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past two weeks and a 37% increase in COVID-19 ICU admissions in that same time period. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday another surge in January stemming from Christmas and New Year's holiday celebrations is "inevitable."

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