Meeting the Storage Requirements of the Vaccines for Children Program
In Parts 1 and 2 of our series about Vaccines for Children (VFC), a program established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we reviewed the benefits this program provides to children and vaccine providers, alike. We also explored some of the potential issues hospitals and pharmacies face with properly storing and handling VFC vaccines.
In this last article in the series, we will cover specific storing and handling requirements from the CDC and VFC.
Following the VFC Storage & Handling Guidelines
To help protect vaccines by storing them at correct temperatures in approved storage units, the CDC has created a toolkit and training materials for use by pharmacists and hospitals that participate in the VFC program. The guidelines they provide will equip you with a thorough and comprehensive review of current storage and handling standards for vaccines; however, below we have outlined some of the main considerations for your convenience.
Vaccine Refrigerator Types
As we shared in Part 2, using the wrong refrigerator leads to ineffective vaccines. Bad refrigerators put children’s lives at risk, and increase potential out-of-pocket costs for hospitals and pharmacies.
To prevent problems, follow these recommendations:
- Pharmacy-grade stand-alone or purpose-built refrigeration units are best for ensuring vaccines remain effective
- Dormitory and dual-zone (refrigerator and freezer combo) consumer refrigerators should NEVER be used to store vaccines
- Consider a pharmacy-grade unit with inventory management capabilities so staff can track expired and low-inventory vaccines, and quickly determine which vaccines have been affected by events such as power outages
Refrigerator Temperature Requirements
Poor temperature control is the leading cause of vaccine ineffectiveness. To avoid this issue, make sure you follow these temperature guidelines:
- Refrigerators must maintain a constant temperature between 2° and 8°C
- Temperatures should be verified via a digital thermometer display on the unit
- Temperature history should be tracked via a built-in data-logging thermometer
Vaccine Refrigerator Design Elements
Because vaccines must have proper air flow, never be crowded, and maintain a constant temperature, your refrigerator units should have the following design elements:
- Superior insulation
- Forced air convection, circulation fans, and forced draft circulation
- Emergency battery backup
- Alarms and alerts that enable staff to respond quickly to changes in temperature or doors that are ajar
Protect Your Patients and Your Hospital’s Reputation with Controlled Temperature Cabinets
If you’re unsure about whether or not your current drug storage solutions meet the VFC requirements, the Intelliguard® RFID Solutions experts at MEPS Real-Time, Inc., can help.
Our Intelliguard® Controlled Temperature Inventory Management System features storage cabinets with pre-set temperature settings for cold (2° to 8°C) or controlled room temperature (20° to 25°C) storage, and come in a variety of sizes, from small under-counter units to large capacity refrigerators.
In addition, these smart temperature controlled cabinets:
- Continually monitor the temperature range of each cabinet in the system
- Provide detailed temperature data and reports in real-time – including item-level reporting on what inventory is in the cabinet at any given time
- Alert staff immediately to out-of-range temperatures and expired vaccines
- Empower staff to respond quickly and ensure vaccines are kept safe and effective
- Enable staff to view and manage inventory levels in the cabinet at all times
- Provide secure remote visibility and controlled access
Ask an Expert about the VFC Requirements
If you’re unsure about whether or not your current drug storage solutions meet the VFC requirements, be sure to read this entire three-part series, or feel free to contact me at dculham@intelliguardrfid.com.
