Extension service loans county a freezer
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Umatilla County has been receiving shipments of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine because it lacked the ultra-cold storage required for the Pfizer vaccine. Public Health Director Joseph Fiumara said that all changed with a delivery he received Monday.
“OSU Extension had a deep-freeze, ultra-cold freezer that they have basically given to us on loan that just got wheeled into my office,” he said.
Fiumara said that the Moderna vaccine is what will be given at this week’s vaccination event.
“The state is aware that we have acquired this freezer, and we may receive Pfizer in the future,” he said. “But right now Moderna is what we’re receiving and that’s what we’re giving out.” The Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius. The Fahrenheit equivalent to that is 94 degrees below zero.
