Monday, 30 November 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

Refrigeration saves the world!

During the COVID-19 global pandemic, the role of refrigeration will literally help to save the world.

As scientists and big-pharma race to develop, test and get regulatory approval for vaccines, the one key component to keeping all the vaccines viable is refrigeration.

This ‘Cold COVID Chain’ has the responsibility of keeping vaccines cold during transport. And for some, they quite literally need to be kept ‘on ice’ until they are used. Reports suggest some of the vaccines need to be kept at minus 70 degrees Celsius or below. If this chain fails, the vaccines won’t work.

And the numbers are staggering. Millions of doses are projected to be manufactured before the end of 2020. And then in 2021, millions become billions.

It is clear the role of refrigeration, and significantly, the technicians who install, maintain and repair refrigeration systems, will be one of the most important in ensuring vaccines are delivered appropriately and can be stored until use.

Glenn Evans, CEO of the Australian Refrigeration Council, said the influence of the refrigeration and air conditioning industry has become apparent as we have adjusted our lives to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, and seen the importance of ensuring food supply chains continue to operate, as well as medical services.

“When you consider that surgical operations can’t happen without refrigeration facilities, or that there’d be no transport of meat or other perishables, let alone the development and distribution of life saving vaccines, you start to realise we’d be in a whole lot of trouble without the men and women of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector,” he said.

Not all superheros wear capes.

For further information, please contact Alex Doran, General Manager, Communications and Business Development at the ARC on 03 9843 1601 or email adoran@arctick.org