Gorakhpur: Corona vaccine is expected to be available by January and chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to set up a cold chain for the vaccination drive in all districts across the state. However the storage of vaccines requires an ultra cold atmosphere for transportation and storage.
Covid-19 vaccines will need storage at very low temperature to remain effective. Dry ice is a good option for packing the vaccine during transport from manufacturer, supplier to administration sites and for storage in some locations.
A chemical unit at
GIDA, Gorakhpur is ready to chip in and claims it can prepare and supply five tonne dry ice on a week’s notice.
Gorakhpur’s industrialist Pravin Modi said, “I was reading in newspapers that one corona vaccine requires a temperature of -70 degree Celsius for storage while others also need a low temperature. We manufacture oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, sanitizer and dry ice and have sufficient resources and plants to manufacture dry ice.”
“If the packaging is good and it does not come in contact with air, the vaccine could be safely stored for three-four days with dry ice. Dry ice will be a very useful way of storing corona vaccine safely in rural areas,” he said.
“Our plant can produce five tonne dry ice per day at a one week notice and if dry ice is available locally it will cut cost and also many hassles,” he said.
Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide having lower temperature than that of water ice.