The use of cool water packs to prevent freezing during vaccine transportation at the country level (original) (raw)
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Use of cool water packs to prevent freezing during vaccine transportation at the country level
PDA journal of pharmaceutical science and technology, 2009
OBJECTIVES To study the impact of the use of cool water packs (water packs refrigerated at 2 to 8 degrees C) on the cold life of vaccine transport boxes and the shelf life of the vaccines. METHODS Data loggers were used to measure the temperatures of vaccine shipments with cool water packs in laboratory studies and country evaluations. The temperature recordings were mathematically translated into reduction of vaccines shelf life, which are illustrated through degrees of color changes of Vaccine Vial Monitors. FINDINGS Laboratory studies at extreme ambient temperatures (43 degrees C) showed that, with the use of cool water packs, temperatures inside the cold box rise to around 20 degrees C within 48 h. When this exposure scenario was repeated four times, the impact of the temperature history on the different heat stability categories of vaccines varied between 2.4 and 36.0% shelf life loss. Oral polio vaccine was found to be the most affected vaccine. All other vaccines were affecte...
Cold chain time-and temperature-controlled transport of vaccines: a simulated experimental study
International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2019
The objective of this research was to examine the cold chain temperature maintenance for the supply of vaccines and other biological products by pharmaceutical wholesaler. Materials and Methods: In this study, six configurations using cold vaccine boxes or bags made with different materials, with and without insulation, of different sizes, and number of coolant-packs were used to simulate the configuration used by the pharmaceutical wholesalers for transportation of vaccine. Model vaccines (vial, n=10) were packed using these six configurations which then stored in an incubator at 38ºC and monitored for 24 hours. Each configuration was tested repeatedly for 5 times. Results: In term of compliance to 2°C-8°C, four out of six tested configurations are effective in cold chain transportation. The effectiveness is highly dependent on the type of passive containers used, size of cold boxes, insulation, and number of coolant-packs. The configuration with a larger polystyrene foam box with five coolant-packs maintained the required temperature up to 23 hours. In contrast, configurations using a polystyrene foam box with four coolantpacks and a large vaccine cold box with two coolant-packs failed to reach below 8ºC throughout the 24 hours. Conclusion: Packaging method, the material and size of the container could have a direct impact on the effectiveness of cold chain temperature maintenance. Polystyrene foam box, cold box with polyethylene interior lining and polypropylene insulation, a cooler bag with proper number of ice packs could be effectively used for transportation of vaccines within their respective transportation duration allowance.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2013
Objective To estimate the proportion of time the vaccines in the cold-chain system in India are exposed to temperatures of < 0 or > 8 °C. Methods In each of 10 states, the largest district and the one most distant from the state capital were selected for study. Four boxes, each containing an electronic temperature recorder and two vials of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine, were placed in the state or regional vaccine store for each study state. Two of these boxes were then shipped-one per facility-towards the two most peripheral health facilities where vaccine was stored in each study district. The boxes were shipped, handled and stored as if they were routine vaccine supplies. Findings In state, regional and district vaccine stores and peripheral health facilities, respectively, the temperatures in the boxes exceeded 8 °C for 14.3%, 13.2%, 8.3% and 14.7% of their combined storage times and fell below 0 °C for 1.5%, 0.2%, 0.6% and 10.5% of these times. The boxes also spent about 18% and 7% of their combined times in transit at < 0 and > 8 °C, respectively. In shake tests conducted at the end of the study, two thirds of the vaccine vials in the boxes showed evidence of freezing. Conclusion While exposure to temperatures above 8 °C occurred at every level of vaccine storage, exposure to subzero temperatures was only frequent during vaccine storage at peripheral facilities and vaccine transportation. Systematic efforts are needed to improve temperature monitoring in the cold-chain system in India.
The status of refrigeration techniques for vaccine storage and transportation in low-income settings
2020
Vaccines need to be continuously stored between 2°C to 8°C, from their production to administration to beneficiaries. Every year, more than 25% of vaccines are wasted. One of the main reasons for this wastage is the lack of cold chain continuity in low-income settings, where electricity is scarce. Recently, several advances have been made in cooling technologies to store and transport vaccines. The current paper presents a review of refrigeration technologies based on scientific publications, industry white papers and other grey literature. For each refrigeration method, we describe its working principle, the best performing devices available as well as the remaining research challenges in order to obtain a very high degree of performance enhancement. Finally, we comment on their applicability for vaccine transport and storage.
A vaccine cold chain freezing study in PNG highlights technology needs for hot climate countries
Vaccine, 2007
Fourteen data loggers were packed with vaccine vials at the national vaccine store, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and sent to peripheral locations in the health system. The temperatures that the data loggers recorded during their passage along the cold chain indicated that heat damage was unlikely, but that all vials were exposed to freezing temperatures at some time. The commonest place where freezing conditions existed was during transport. The freezing conditions were likely induced by packing the vials too close to the ice packs that were themselves too cold, and with insufficient insulation between them. This situation was rectified and a repeat dispatch of data loggers demonstrated that the system had indeed been rectified. Avoiding freeze damage becomes even more important as the price of freeze-sensitive vaccines increases with the introduction of more multiple-antigen vaccines. This low-cost high-tech method of evaluating the cold chain function is highly recommended for developing and industrialized nations and should be used on a regular basis to check the integrity of the vaccine cold chain. The study highlights the need for technological solutions to avoid vaccine freezing, particularly in hot climate countries.
Objective: Invasion of illness due to microbes has now becoming a worst situation for health associated professionals. As a fragile product, its storage and handling should be proper as recommended. Background: For the prevention and cure of diseases, vaccine has now become a popular tool biosafety. The main aim of the present study was to find out vaccines’ storage compartment temperature in different private clinics, hospitals, and community pharmacies in Karachi, Pakistan. The desired potency of vaccines is an integral part for vaccination. Result: During present study, visited 803 different clinics, centers, and pharmacies and found refrigerator and/or freezers only 491 clinics, centers, and pharmacies. In these 491, 107 private clinics, 9 governmental health care centers, 56 hospital, and 319 community pharmacies had been selected randomly because they kept vaccines. Only 77.19% were positively responds to our survey. The present study prevailed overall 38.52% and 7.32%, refrigerators and freezers had recommended temperature respectively in clinics, pharmacies, and health care centers. Conclusion: It has been found due to lack of knowledge, insufficient training, importance of cold chain, and above all shortage and/or breakdown of power supply have been played an important role. Based on the present study, it has been forcefully recommended there must be local guidelines or at least national guidelines. It has been tried to enhance the importance of cold chain for vaccines, and endeavor to implement the rules.
Ensuring Vaccine Temperature Integrity: Monitoring from Storage to Last-Mile Delivery
Ensuring Vaccine Temperature Integrity: Monitoring from Storage to Last-Mile Delivery, 2024
Acknowledging the significant impact of temperature deviations on vaccine efficacy, this study examines the prevalence of exposure to non-recommended temperatures, particularly focusing on freeze-sensitive vaccines. This study aims to identify critical points of temperature breaches during transportation from storage to last-mile delivery. In this cross-sectional study, the temperature integrity of vaccines has been examined during transportation across three states in India (Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan), utilizing data loggers to track and record temperatures in real time. By analyzing instances of exposure to temperatures beyond the recommended 2-8°C range, the study aims to identify the critical junctures within the vaccine supply chain susceptible to temperature excursions. The methodology entailed a systematic data logger analysis at each stage of transportation up to the last mile. In this study, descriptive statistics with the
Energies, 2021
This article considers the ideal storage conditions for multiple vaccine brands, such as Pfizer, Moderna, CoronaVac, Oxford–AstraZeneca, Janssen COVID-19 and Sputnik V. Refrigerant fluid options for each storage condition, thermal load to cool each type of vaccine and environmental impacts of refrigerants are compared. An energy simulation using the EUED (energy usage effectiveness design) index was developed. The Oxford–AstraZeneca, Janssen COVID-19 and CoronaVac vaccines show 9.34-times higher energy efficiency than Pfizer. In addition, a TEWI (total equivalent warming impact) simulation was developed that prioritizes direct environmental impacts and indirect in refrigeration. From this analysis, it is concluded that the cold storage of Oxford–AstraZeneca, Janssen COVID-19 and CoronaVac vaccines in Brazil generates 35-times less environmental impact than the Pfizer vaccine.
Tropical diseases, travel medicine and vaccines, 2020
Objective: To document the temperature integrity at the vaccine storage devices at various levels in three states of India. Methods: A total of 213 health facilities including 196 facilities (district and sub-district levels) from 27 select districts and 17 division or state level vaccine stores in three states were included. At these facilities, temperature in 223 vaccine storage devices was recorded for at least 7 consecutive days using electronic temperature datalogger. Results: During the observation period, overall the vaccines were exposed to temperature < 0°C for 14.8% of the storage time with 8.6, 6.7 and 18% at state/division, district and sub-district vaccine stores, respectively. The vaccines were also exposed to temperature > 8°C for 6.6% of the storage time including 1.3, 13 and 5.1% at state/ division, district and sub-district vaccine stores, respectively. Continuous episodes of temperature deviation for 45 min or longer to < 0°C and > 8°C was observed in 7.2 and 6.4% of the observation period, respectively. These temperature deviations were not captured by the routine temperature monitoring practice. Conclusion: The vaccines were exposed to freezing temperature for a considerable period at all level stores, which was more than the exposure to higher temperature. To ensure vaccine potency and immunogenicity, stringent temperature integrity maintenance is needed at all levels.
Expanded program on immunization is one of the strategic universally accepted methods for the control of childhood diseases which include poliomyelitis. In Nigeria both monovalent and trivalent oral polio vaccines are routinely used. Thermal stability was determined using 16 vials obtained from different storage facilities, had titres which ranged from log 10 6.5 to 8.4. These values still fell within the normal limits recommended by WHO as minimum accepted values (P1= log 10 6.0, P2=5.0 and P3= 5.8). It was observed that the storage facilities in all the three tier of vaccination centres had adequate power supply ranging from solar refrigerators, standby generators and the National Electricity supply. Also, polio vaccine vials have vaccine vial monitor (VVM) device which usually indicate change in color when cold-chain is not maintained. This necessitated the change of vaccine carrier when the need arose during the house to house immunization exercise. Adequate potency obtained in this study confirmed ideal storage condition of vaccines in Maiduguri. [Stem Cell. 2010;1(1):69-73] (ISSN 1545-4570).