Pfizer vaccine can be stored in fridge for a month, says US regulator

The US Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorised storage of Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 vaccine at standard freezer temperatures for up to one month, in an effort to make the vaccine more widely available.

Unopened, thawed vials of the vaccine can be stored in a refrigerator at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius for up to a month, up from a previous maximum limit of five days.

"This change should make this vaccine more widely available to the American public by facilitating the ability of vaccine providers, such as community doctors' offices, to receive, store and administer the vaccine," said Peter Marks, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

The change is especially important for global and remote U.S. facilities that have poor transport and storage infrastructure.

Shangri-La dialogue cancelled on rising cases in Singapore

The Shangri-La Dialogue Asian security summit that was due to be held in Singapore next month has been cancelled, the organisers said on Thursday, citing the impact of the pandemic, including on the host country.  This year's event, which is arranged by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, was scheduled to take place from June 4-5.