Vaccine Storage and Handling Training. Onondaga County Health Department November 2012

Transcription

1 Vaccine Storage and Handling Training Onondaga County Health Department November 2012

2 Stocking Vaccine Refrigerators Stock should not touch the walls of the refrigerator. Allow space between walls and rows of stock for air circulation. Water bottles can be placed on the sides or bottom of the refrigerator to help maintain temperatures.

3 Stocking Vaccine Refrigerators Vaccine stock should not be placed on the floor of the refrigerator or in the crisper drawers. Crisper drawers should be removed. If it is necessary to store stock on the floor, place it on top of a container with open sides to allow air flow under the vaccine.

4 Types of Refrigerators The CDC recommends use of stand-alone alone refrigerators and stand-alone alone freezer units suitable for vaccine storage instead of the combination refrigerator /freezer. New Recommendation! Recommendations also includes discontinuation of dorm-style or bar-style refrigerator / freezers for ANY vaccine storage, even temporary.

5 Thermometer Placement Place thermometers and external thermometer probes in the center of the refrigerator / freezer. An internal, calibrated thermometer should be checked twice a day for both the refrigerator and the freezer and documented separately from the external thermometer. Do not place the thermometer where the vent from the freezer blows cold air into the refrigerator.

6 Thermometer requirements for VFC providers The NYS Vaccine Program requires health care providers to purchase calibrated thermometers with a Certificate of Traceability and Calibration. VFC providers will be asked to produce certificates of calibration for each thermometer during VFC Compliance Site Visits. Calibrated and certified thermometers are available in a variety of types including digital, bio-safe liquid, continuous graphic, and minimum / maximum thermometers.

7 CDC Thermometer Recommendations New Recommendation! Thermometers should be biosafe glycol-encased probe or similar buffered probe rather than probes measuring ambient air temperatures. In addition to thermometers, a digital data logger with a detachable probe should be used to record and store temperature information at frequent intervals for 24 hours rather than non- continuous monitoring.

8 Responding to out of range temperatures Implement a reporting policy with a designee to notify if temperatures become out of range. Write all corrective actions on the back of the temperature log, which need to be kept for 3 years.

9 When there is a problem Notify a supervisor or designee. Adjust the thermostat. Check the unit for problems. Document the date / time/ temp/ problem and what you did to correct it. Recheck temperature every 2 hours and document. If still out of range, call for maintenance and move vaccines to an alternate site. Call the vaccine manufacturer for specific instructions on use of vaccine that has been exposed to out of range temperatures.

10 Have an Emergency Plan Each practice should have a written plan stating who is responsible for the vaccines in an emergency. The plan should also identify a back-up storage location with a generator for extended power outages.

11 Separate VFC and Private Stock Vaccines Practices need to keep stock in the original packaging and clearly separated and labeled so that it is able to be quickly grabbed at a glance.

12 Know Who s s Responsible for Vaccines Have an staff member assigned to vaccine management duties. Also have a back-up person who knows how to: Record temperatures Follow through if there is a problem Receive vaccine deliveries properly

13 Vaccine Storage Space Vaccine refrigerators are for vaccines ONLY! No food should be stored in vaccine refrigerators or freezers!

14 When to Discard Multi-Use Vials Vaccine in multi-dose vials can be used until the expiration date unless visibly contaminated. Conduct a weekly review of vaccine expiration dates and rotate stock each week.

15 Double check that the vaccine refrigerator door is closed after each use!

16 Thank You! Please complete the post-test test