News Room

President Donald Trump touted vaccine distribution plans in a Friday news conference and pledged 100 million vaccine doses by the year's end, a promise that contradicts the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most optimistic projections. "We will have manufactured at least 100 million vaccine doses before the end of the year, and likely much more than that," Trump said. "We expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April."

Ultra-cold freezers are suddenly a hot commodity. One of the most advanced US coronavirus vaccines, created by Pfizer in partnership with BioNTech, has to be stored at -70° Celsius (-94° Fahrenheit), or around 30°C colder than the North Pole in winter. It’s far from certain that the vaccine will be approved for widespread distribution. But if it is, very few freezers go that cold.

As the Trump administration pushes ahead with its Covid-19 vaccine distribution plans, state health authorities are expressing concerns that the government hasn’t resolved critical issues, complicating their efforts to deliver any shots that get cleared for use to those most in need. The federal government released two vaccine-distribution plans this week, but state health officials, who will play a key role in immunization campaigns, say much work still needs to be done.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker brought in two medical experts to act as his pulling guard and his tackle — using scientific reasoning to defend his decision not to allow contact youth sports. The governor has stood his ground in the pocket, unmoved by a vocal and persistent opposition. On the other side of the line are the coaches, parents and players that are part of the Let Us Play movement, who want fall football (and other sports) and they’re rushing in with rallies scheduled for Saturday in Chicago and Springfield.

Just like a fresh piece of fish, vaccines are highly perishable products and must be kept at very cold, specific temperatures. The majority of COVID-19 vaccines under development – like the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines – are new RNA-based vaccines. If they get too warm or too cold they spoil. And, just like fish, a spoiled vaccine must be thrown away. So how do companies and public health agencies get vaccines to the people who need them?