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Specially made freezers that can hold COVID-19 vaccine arrive at Milwaukee VA Medical Center

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MILWAUKEE — A freezer has arrived at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center and is expected to be used for the COVID-19 vaccines once they become available.

Workers installed the new cooler last week, which can reach -80 degrees Fahrenheit which is cold enough to store Pfizer’s version of the vaccine, which requires -70 degrees.

The VA shared a photo on their website Tuesday of the freezers being installed and said they are unaware of when they will receive the vaccine but are ready for it.

“We don’t know if we’re part of that first allocation,” Pharmacy Manager Kim Bell said. “VA doesn’t know our overall allocation and can’t say what we’re going to get. We probably won’t know until the authorization goes through.”

Hospital officials said there is no wait list for those planning to get the vaccine and they are following CDC guidelines and recommendations when it comes to the vaccine and its distribution.

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