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A vaccine cold chain is the system used to store, transport, and handle vaccines at recommended temperatures from the point of manufacture all the way to vaccine administration. This ‘system’ consists of equipment, people and processes. This is important because vaccines are sensitive products. If they are exposed to temperatures outside of range, or if they are frozen when they should not be, potency can be lost. Once potency is lost, it cannot be restored. This can lead to reduced vaccine effectiveness, increased disease outbreaks, wasted vaccine doses and higher costs.
Every break in the cold chain requires documentation and evaluation before vaccines are used. Some common cold chain breaks are power outages, refrigerator failure, thermometer malfunction, improper packing during transport and leaving vaccines out too long during clinics.
Key Components of the Cold Chain
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Trained Personnel
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Know how store, handle and monitor vaccines
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Understand emergency procedures for temperature excursions
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Proper Equipment and Storage
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Refrigerators and freezers
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Cold boxes, carriers, and insulated containers for transport
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Temperature monitoring devices
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Vaccine Inventory Management – Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
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Receiving and unpacking vaccines
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Storing and organizing stock
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Monitoring and documenting temperatures
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Responding to cold-chain failures
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