In an effort to support local vaccination efforts, Niagara College donated an “ultra-low” temperature freezer to Niagara Region Public Health for vaccine storage.
The freezer can reach -80 C and has a capacity of 13 cubic feet.
Previously located at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus where it was used in a lab, the college looked for a way to repurpose the freezer when the lab was decommissioned.
“We are pleased to support Niagara Region Public Health and our community members as Niagara moves forward in its vaccine rollout,” said Marc Nantel, vice president, research and external relations.
“This freezer will aid Niagara Region Public Health to safely store and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to members of our community.”
“As the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine requires specialized storage, this ultra-low freezer allows the team at Niagara Region Public Health to store vaccine with seamless and secure access as we host daily vaccination clinics in communities across Niagara,” said Kim Friesen, manager, mass immunization, Niagara Region Public Health. “Thank you to Niagara College for their support of both public health and the residents of Niagara.”
The donation of the freezer is the most recent effort from Niagara College to support the community and health-care workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The college’s Research and Innovation division also produced 36,500 face shields and donated 17,300 of them to help Niagara Health with its increased need for protective equipment, while the Teaching Distillery produced more than 1,100 litres of a 70 per cent alcohol disinfectant to be used for hand sanitizer and surface wipes.