Pfizer‐BioNTech COVID‐19 Vaccine Vial with Purple Cap – VIAL VERIFICATION

• Verify that the vial has a purple plastic cap. Some vials also may have a purple label border

THAWING PRIOR TO DILUTION

• Thaw vial(s) of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine before use either by:

  • Allowing vial(s) to thaw in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). A carton of vials may take up to 3 hours to thaw, and thawed vials can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 month

  • Allowing vial(s) to sit at room temperature (up to 25°C) for 30 minutes

• Using either thawing method, vials must reach room temperature before dilution and must be diluted within 2 hours

• Before dilution invert vaccine vial gently 10 times 

• Do not shake

• Inspect the liquid in the vial prior to dilution. The liquid is a white to off-white suspension and may contain white to off-white opaque amorphous particles

• Do not use if liquid is discolored or if other particles are observed

DILUTION

• Obtain sterile 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP. Use only this as the diluent

• Using aseptic technique, withdraw 1.8 mL of diluent into a transfer syringe (21-gauge or narrower needle)

• Cleanse the vaccine vial stopper with a single-use antiseptic swab

• Add 1.8 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP into the vaccine vial

• Equalize vial pressure before removing the needle from the vial by withdrawing 1.8 mL of air into the empty diluent syringe

• Gently invert the vial containing the vaccine 10 times to mix

• Do not shake

• Inspect the vaccine in the vial

• The vaccine will be an off-white suspension. Do not use if vaccine is discolored or contains particulate matter​​​​​

• Record the date and time of dilution on the vaccine vial label 

• Store between 2°C to 25°C

• Discard any unused vaccine 6 hours after dilution

WITHDRAWAL OF INDIVIDUAL 0.3 mL DOSES

• Using aseptic technique, cleanse the vial stopper with a single-use antiseptic swab, and withdraw 0.3 mL of the vaccine preferentially using low dead-volume syringes and/or needles 

• Each dose must contain 0.3 mL of vaccine

• If the amount of vaccine remaining in a single vial cannot provide a full dose of 0.3 mL, discard the vial and any excess volume

• Administer immediately