Ford orders 12 ultra-cold freezers to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to employees

DETROIT – Ford Motor Co said it has ordered a dozen ultra-cold freezers that may safely store Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine, a move targeted at ensuring the U.S. automaker’s workers get access to vaccines when they're rolled out nationally.

Ford’s purchase mirrors efforts by U.S. states and cities to purchase equipment to store millions of doses of Pfizer’s vaccine at temperatures of minus 70 Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit), significantly below the standard for vaccines of 2-8 C (36-46 F).

Health care providers and states are preparing for a new type of vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna Inc that need lower temperatures for storage.

“We’re doing this to ensure that we are able to result in the vaccine available to our employees on the voluntary basis,” Ford spokeswoman Kelli Felker said.

Details of how Ford uses the freezers, which are likely to be delivered by year end, are still being worked out, she said.

Assembly personnel are considered essential in most states, but not at the top of their email list for vaccines, that are likely to be distributed first to healthcare workers and elderly care residents.

Automakers have been largely in a position to avoid spread from the virus among hourly workers in their assembly plants following a two-month shutdown earlier around, but COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are spiking in the United States, specially in the Midwest.

Felker did not know recognise the business is supplying Ford with the freezers. Major manufacturers include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc, PHC Corp of The united states, Luxembourg’s B Medical Systems, Stirling Ultracold and Helmer Scientific.

Some specialty freezer makers have warned of months-long waits for units.

Ford, which decided to purchase the freezers by itself and is not dealing with others or states, didn't disclose just how much it spent, however the specialized freezers necessary for Pfizer’s vaccine may cost $5,000 to $15,000 apiece, based on industry officials.

General Motors Co said hello had not purchased freezers at the moment. “We're taking steps to be ready to make vaccines open to our employees once the time is appropriate and vaccines are for sale to us,” GM spokesman Patrick Morrissey said.

Officials at Toyota Motor Corp, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and also the United Auto Workers union, which represents most U.S. hourly workers at the Detroit automakers, was without an instantaneous comment. Michigan state health officials could not immediately be reached to comment.

(Reporting by Ben Klayman; Editing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)