P R Lewis1, R F Reimer, A J Dixon. 1. Central Coast Public Health Unit, Gosford, New South Wales. plewis@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation of guidelines for vaccine storage in general practice, and their effectiveness in achieving optimum vaccine storage temperatures in fridges. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional surveys over time--phase 1 1996/97, phase 2 1998/99, phase 3 1999/2000. SETTING: Central Coast, New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Phase 1--all general practices on the Central Coast. Phases 2 and 3--samples of practices. INTERVENTIONS: Each practice was surveyed about how they stored vaccines. A datalogger recorded fridge temperatures over six days. Individual feedback and advice were given. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of: 1. fridges maintaining a temperature in the 2-8 degrees C range; 2. fridges freezing; 3. practices with one person responsible for vaccine storage; 4. bridge temperature checked daily; 5. fridges storing no items other than vaccines; 6. bridges with thermometers; and 7. associations between storage practices and fridge temperatures. RESULTS: In phase 1, 102 fridges, and in phase 3, a random sample of 36 practices was surveyed. The findings for phase 1 and phase 3 respectively were: 31% and 50% of fridges were in the 2-8 degrees C range; 36% and 25% were <0 degrees C; one person was responsible in 52% and 53% of cases; 20% and 38% reported daily checks; 74% and 94% of fridges had no extraneous items and 53% and 86% of fridges had thermometers. No statistically significant associations were found between vaccine storage practices and bridge temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements in vaccine storage practices, a quarter of fridges were freezing, thereby compromising the potency of many of the immunisation schedule vaccines.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the implementation of guidelines for vaccine storage in general practice, and their effectiveness in achieving optimum vaccine storage temperatures in fridges. DESIGN: Repeated cross-sectional surveys over time--phase 1 1996/97, phase 2 1998/99, phase 3 1999/2000. SETTING: Central Coast, New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Phase 1--all general practices on the Central Coast. Phases 2 and 3--samples of practices. INTERVENTIONS: Each practice was surveyed about how they stored vaccines. A datalogger recorded fridge temperatures over six days. Individual feedback and advice were given. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of: 1. fridges maintaining a temperature in the 2-8 degrees C range; 2. fridges freezing; 3. practices with one person responsible for vaccine storage; 4. bridge temperature checked daily; 5. fridges storing no items other than vaccines; 6. bridges with thermometers; and 7. associations between storage practices and fridge temperatures. RESULTS: In phase 1, 102 fridges, and in phase 3, a random sample of 36 practices was surveyed. The findings for phase 1 and phase 3 respectively were: 31% and 50% of fridges were in the 2-8 degrees C range; 36% and 25% were <0 degrees C; one person was responsible in 52% and 53% of cases; 20% and 38% reported daily checks; 74% and 94% of fridges had no extraneous items and 53% and 86% of fridges had thermometers. No statistically significant associations were found between vaccine storage practices and bridge temperatures. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements in vaccine storage practices, a quarter of fridges were freezing, thereby compromising the potency of many of the immunisation schedule vaccines.
Authors: S Mallik; P K Mandal; C Chatterjee; P Ghosh; N Manna; D Chakrabarty; S N Bagchi; S Dasgupta Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 0.927
Authors: Birgitta M Weltermann; Marta Markic; Anika Thielmann; Stefan Gesenhues; Martin Hermann Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-08-13 Impact factor: 3.240