Rohit Shishodia
The experts of WHO teams analyzed Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s data on safety, efficacy and quality as part of a risk-versus-benefit analysis.

They found that the vaccine met the must-have criteria for safety and efficacy set out by the UN agency, and that the benefits of using the vaccine to address Covid-19 offset potential risks.

The WHO has informed that Pfizer vaccine requires storage using an ultra-cold chain. The vaccine needs to be stored at -60°C to -90°C degrees.

The UN's health agency  points out that this requirement makes the vaccine more challenging to deploy in settings where ultra-cold chain equipment may not be available or reliably accessible. For that reason, the organization is working to support countries in assessing their delivery plans and preparing for use where possible.

Dr Mariângela Simão, WHO Assistant-Director General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, said that this is a very positive step towards ensuring global access to Covid-19 vaccines.

“But I want to emphasize the need for an even greater global effort to achieve enough vaccine supply to meet the needs of priority populations everywhere,” added Simão.

“WHO and our partners are working night and day to evaluate other vaccines that have reached safety and efficacy standards. We encourage even more developers to come forward for review and assessment. It’s vitally important that we secure the critical supply needed to serve all countries around the world and stem the pandemic,” explained Simão.

The WHO has said that It’s Emergency Use Listing (EUL) opens the door for countries to expedite their own regulatory approval processes to import and administer the vaccine. It also enables UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization to procure the vaccine for distribution to countries in need.