Storage of COVID-19 vaccine with frozen blood products and tissue

[Johnv 18]

The Blood Bank has ultralow freezers for the storage of tissue and frozen plasma.  At our hospital we have been approached as a possible overflow storage location for the Covid-19 vaccine.  Is there a FDA regulatory rule against the storage of human vaccines with blood products?  I believe in the past we have stored RhIG (Rhogam) with the RBC inventory, although due to the temperature requirement (2-8C vs 1-6C for blood)  we currently have a separate reagent storage refrigerator.  The storage of Rhogam with blood has never resulted in a citation from CAP, Joint Commission or our State Department of Health. thanks.   

[Ensis01 122]

My logic is that as the FDA categorizes blood products as a drug I don’t see why they could/would have a problem. 
You may however want to clarify who will have freezer(s) access to stock and issue the vaccine etc. 

[David Saikin 1,420]

no reason you cannot store the vaccine w frozen components.

[Neil Blumberg 246]

There is absolutely no scientific or clinical reason that a vaccine could not be stored with frozen blood components.  That doesn't mean you won't get some overly officious inspector who will decide it's a bad idea.  But currently there are no regulatory or accreditation issues that I am aware of.

[Cliff 435]

On 12/1/2020 at 6:19 PM, Ensis01 said:

You may however want to clarify who will have freezer(s) access to stock and issue the vaccine etc. 

This is what I would be concerned about.  Our Blood Bank is locked down, so it's not a concern for us.  No one but us can get in.  I would not want anyone else to have access to our storage devices.

[Joanne P. Scannell 219]

Of course, all this may be a moot point because at this time, it is highly unlikely that anyone in the US will have an 'overstock' of vaccine. 

Due to failures and incompetency I don't need to mention, we will be lucky to get a fraction of what we need just to protect our 'front line'.

[Ensis01 122]

9 hours ago, Joanne P. Scannell said:

Of course, all this may be a moot point because at this time, it is highly unlikely that anyone in the US will have an 'overstock' of vaccine. 

Due to failures and incompetency I don't need to mention, we will be lucky to get a fraction of what we need just to protect our 'front line'.

While I agree with the outcome you describe. I believe (maybe naively ) that it will be designing, implementing and coordinating this massive logistical challenge, that I struggle to imagine, plus communicating the process to provide and manage expectations that will be the primary problem. The inevitable failures will be perceived as incompetency, deserved or not.