U.S. Donates Cold Storage for Pfizer Vaccine

As a measure of showing its commitment to Belize in the fight against COVID-19, today the C.D.C., through the U.S. Embassy in Belize, donated cold chain equipment to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.  The ultra-low temperature freezer can store vaccines, like the Pfizer vaccine, that require storage temperatures reaching below negative seventy degrees Celsius. A brief ceremony was held at the Western Regional Hospital’s Vaccine facility in Belmopan this afternoon.

Keith Gilges

Keith Gilges, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy of Belize

“The freezer donated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and coordinated by the U.S Embassy will enable significantly more Belizeans to be inoculated with safe and effective covid-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide problem that requires a global solution. The United States is committed to playing a lead role in international Covid-19 response in partnership with the global community.”

Michel Chebat

Michel Chebat, Minister of Health and Wellness

“The Government of Belize, its ministry of Health and Wellness and its people are truly grateful for receiving this humanitarian aid through the regional office of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention facilitated by the United States Government and Embassy in Belize. This equipment will be used initially for the proper storage of COVID-19 vaccines and then to support the storage of laboratory supplies at the Central Medical Laboratory of Belize. The ultra-low temperature freezer can reach temperatures as low as minus eight six degrees Celsius, much lower than standard pharmaceutical and laboratory grade freezers and refrigerators. The Ministry of Health has also embarked on the mission to secure vaccines for the Belizeans population. With this hope the Ministry of Health and Wellness is expecting to receive in the near future the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine that requires storage at minus seventy degrees celsius.”