What is a cold chain in vaccine?
What is a cold chain in vaccine?
The cold chain is a set of rules and procedures that ensure the proper storage and distribution of vaccines to health services from the national to the local level. The cold chain is interconnected with refrigeration equipment that allows vaccines to be stored at recommended temperatures to maintain their potency.
Why are cold chains necessary for vaccines?
This is called a cold chain. Vaccines must be continuously stored in a limited temperature range – from the time they are manufactured until the moment of vaccination. This is because temperatures that are too high or too low can cause the vaccine to lose its potency (its ability to protect against disease).
Does the Pfizer vaccine have to be kept cold?
today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is authorizing undiluted, thawed Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine vials to be stored in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (35°F to 46°F) for up to 1 month. Previously, thawed, undiluted vaccine vials could be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
What is cold chain requirement?
The system for distributing vaccines in a potent state from the manufacturers to the actual vaccination sites is called the cold chain, and it consists of a series of transportation and storage links during which adequate refrigeration is required.
How long can Pfizer vaccine be at room temperature unmixed?
Vials can be held at room temperature for up to 2 hours before mixing. After 2 hours, return unmixed vials to the refrigerator.
How cold does the Covid vaccine need to be?
Before mixing, the vaccine may be stored in an ultra-cold freezer between -90°C and -60°C (-130°F and -76°F).
Does Astrazeneca have to be kept cold?
The vaccine can be stored in cold chain conditions of +2°C to +8°C for a maximum of 6 months as per the expiry date printed on the vial. Do not freeze the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any preservative. Each dose should be used as soon as practical once withdrawn from the vial.
