Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 'grey-cap' vials that do not require dilution coming soon

Health Canada has approved a new multi-dose vial format for Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty). The new multi-dose vials will have a grey cap and grey label border, and will be an alternative to the original purple-cap vials for individuals 12 years of age or older. The grey-cap vials have a different buffer and improved stability compared to the original purple-cap vials. They also do not require dilution, which makes handling and administration easier. Both the purple-cap and grey-cap multi-dose vials contain six doses of 0.3 mL, if low dead-volume syringes and/or needles are used. Read: Updated Canadian guideline for evaluation and management of kidney stones If the grey-cap vials arrive from the manufacturer frozen at ultra-cold conditions, they can be stored in an ultra-low temperature freezer (-90°C to -60°C). Alternatively, they may be transferred to the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) and stored for a single period of up to 10 weeks (within the 9-month shelf-life). The original purple-cap vials could only be stored (undiluted) for up to one month under refrigeration. If the grey-cap vials arrive refrigerated, they should continue to be stored under refrigeration (2°C to 8°C) for up to the total 10-week refrigerated expiry date. Comirnaty grey-cap multi-dose vials may be stored at room temperature (up to 25°C) for a total of 12 hours prior to the first puncture. The original purple-cap vials can be stored undiluted at room temperature for no more than two hours. After dilution, the purple-cap vials can be stored at 2°C to 25°C for up to six hours from the time of dilution. The Comirnaty grey-cap multi-dose vials for ages ≥ 12 years are estimated to arrive in Canada in mid-May. The original Comirnaty purple-cap multi-dose vials for ages ≥ 12 years will continue to be available, at least for the time being. The manufacturer will also continue to supply Comirnaty orange-cap multi-dose vials for children 5 to 11 years of age. References 1. Government of Canada. Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. March 15, 2022. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/covid19-industry/drugs-vaccines-treatments/vaccines/pfizer-biontech.html (accessed March 28, 2022). 2. Pfizer Canada ULC. Comirnaty (COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA suspension for intramuscular injection) product monograph. Kirkland, QC; March 15, 2022. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00065034.PDF (accessed March 28, 2022).

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine 'grey-cap' vials that do not require dilution coming soon

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