The distribution processes of vaccines, which are the time between vaccine preparation and delivery to humans, are actually an important journey. Because vaccines enable our immune system to recognize viruses, bacteria and their harmful products. Thus, a more effective defense becomes possible when faced with real danger. With the protection provided by the vaccines, it is possible to prevent the diseases in which the vaccine is completely effective, or to have a milder course. The benefits of the vaccine, which can be summarized in this way, actually reveal how important it is to be vaccinated for human health.
Transport and storage of vaccines is particularly important in terms of distribution processes of vaccines. Because vaccines can be produced in limited numbers. However, since it is easily perishable, vaccines must be stored in an appropriate temperature environment. For this reason, distribution processes of vaccines become an issue that requires sensitivity.
The question, “What is cold chain application?”, on vaccine transportation stands out among the questions that need to be answered. “How should the storage conditions of vaccines be?” The question is one of the factors to be considered in this process, which is very curious. With the Covid-19 outbreak, vaccines are being talked about more. The need for the use of vaccine cabinets is also increasing. For this reason, we include important information about distribution processes of vaccines in our article.
What Is a Vaccine and How Is It Stored?
There are different answer alternatives for the question of what is a vaccine. Vaccines can be defined as viruses, bacteria, etc., which are capable of causing disease on living things. It can be defined as biological products that ensure the purification of microbes from their disease-causing properties. Thus, the human body recognizes microbes or toxins that do not harm it and develops a defense against them. Thus, in case of encountering real microbes, it fights with the previously developed defense system.
As a result, the person does not catch the disease, and even if caught, it is easier to get over it. The vaccine gives immunity. The resulting immunization usually stays in the body for life. Even if it encounters the disease agent later, the body struggles to neutralize it.
Immunization is among the most important public health interventions in terms of preventing vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths. Thanks to vaccination, societies are protected from diseases and epidemics. Although the vaccine may seem scary, especially for young children, it is important for health. Viruses that are so ineffective as to be noticed are used as both a very important and useful measure for epidemics. The distribution processes of vaccines draw attention because the vaccine is so important for health.
Many factors play a role in the question of how vaccines are stored. It is important for maintaining the durability of vaccines until their expiration date. Although vaccines are usually stored between +2°C and +8°C, there are also vaccines with special storage conditions. To give an example, -70 degrees is required for the Covid-19 vaccine. Within the scope of answering the question “How should the storage conditions of vaccines be?”, there are criteria to be considered:
-Vaccines must be stored in the vaccine storage cabinet.
-It is recommended to choose double-door no-frost refrigerators with separate freezer and lower sections as vaccine cabinets.
-It is important that the temperature of the vaccine storage cabinet is checked once a day in the morning and evening on weekdays, on weekends and other holidays and recorded on the temperature monitoring chart.
-It is emphasized that nothing should be placed on the cabinet door, and that drinks, food and similar items should not be stored in the refrigerator, except for the vaccine.
How vaccines are stored during distribution is very important. This shows how effective the selection of the right vaccine refrigerators is for the distribution processes of vaccines.
Cold Chain Application in Vaccines
The question of what is cold chain is an important element in the distribution process of the vaccine. Cold chain is the name given to the system consisting of people and materials, which ensures that the desired amount of effective vaccine reaches the people in need at the right temperature. Vaccines lose their effectiveness if they are exposed to very hot or cold temperatures. Therefore, the cold chain system must be used.
It is important to be careful about breaking the cold chain in vaccines. Another issue that should not be forgotten is that not only high temperatures but also low temperatures damage vaccines. The factors in breaking the cold chain in vaccines are listed as follows:
- Exposure to Temperature
If the temperature to which the vaccine is exposed is outside of +2ºC to 8ºC, it spoils the vaccine.
- Duration of Exposure
The preservation of the effectiveness of the vaccine changes in direct proportion to the time of exposure to low or high temperature. The longer the exposure to heat, the greater the damage.
- Types of Vaccine
Live vaccines lose their activity very quickly when exposed to high temperatures. Inactivated vaccines also lose their effectiveness at high temperatures; but they can be more resistant than live vaccines. Since inactivated vaccines are very sensitive to low temperatures, they lose their effectiveness very quickly if they are frozen.
- Previous Storage Conditions
The storage conditions of the vaccines exposed to heat also cause the loss of effectiveness.
- Closeness of Expiration Date
The closer the expiration date of vaccines whose cold chain is broken, the easier it is for them to lose their effectiveness.
In terms of distribution processes of vaccines, the cold chain application must be carried out in a healthy way. It is stated that the vaccines suspected with a breach in cold chain should be placed and marked in a special place reserved for the vaccines in the cold storage. The importance of which vaccine storage systems should be preferred, which provides the appropriate temperature for vaccines, stands out here.
Vaccine Transportation and Its Importance
Vaccines are known as biological products that provide protection against diseases by stimulating the immune system. While the distribution processes are organized in vaccines, they need to be delivered to people without being spoiled. So how are vaccines distributed?
“What is vaccine transport?” The question is very important in the healthcare industry. Vaccine transport corresponds to the execution of people, materials and equipment covering the cold chain and immunization supply chain. At this stage, all the activities carried out, from the observance of the material quality, the maintenance, repair and supply of the equipment to the training, are evaluated as a whole. These activities are grouped under three main headings.
- Planning and procurement
- Storage and distribution
- Cold chain management and monitoring
While planning the distribution processes of vaccines, which is an active element of vaccine transportation activities, it is important to provide suitable conditions during the storage and distribution of vaccines. This increases the importance of suitable vaccine cabinets. At this point, “What should be considered when distributing vaccines?” question comes to mind. In this regard, maintaining the right temperature, delivering it on time and taking the necessary precautions are considered as a priority.
The Importance of Vaccine Cabinets for Distribution Processes in Vaccines
While vaccine transportation activities are carried out, cold boxes, vaccine transport containers, vaccine carriers, ice bags, ice containers, refrigerators, refrigerated vehicles, temperature monitoring devices are the most used tools and equipment.
For those who are wondering what a vaccine cabinet is, it is possible to explain it as a storage tool that allows vaccines to be kept until they are used after they are procured. While dead and live bacterial vaccines are stored at +2/+8°C, this temperature range is expected to be between -15/-20°C for viral vaccines. Otherwise, there is a risk that the vaccines will fail. As for the function of vaccine cabinets in terms of distribution processes of vaccines, it offers a healthy solution for those who want to store vaccines at the desired temperature.
Vaccines are Safe with Coolermed
The question of what the vaccine storage cabinet should be like is answered by Coolermed products. Because Coolermed coolers allow multiple vaccines to be stored at the same time for products of different volumes.
Eco vaccine cabinets, which are among Coolermed products, have an adjustable shelf feature. In this way, a great advantage is obtained in storing different and sensitive products such as vaccines and drugs.
In Coolermed vaccine cabinets there are product alternatives covering different volumes. These products give important clues about how the storage conditions of vaccines should be with their properties:
- Block doors or glass doors are used.
- The inner body structure is made of stainless steel.
- Thanks to the door lock system, unauthorized persons cannot open the cabinets.
- The number of shelves may vary. At the same time, some of the products include shelf increase or decrease features.
- Easy menu management ensures comfortable use of products.
Considering the distribution processes of vaccines, there is a great need for vaccine cabinets. You can also benefit from Coolermed products for distribution processes of vaccines. You can safely store vaccines until the expiration date.
You can read our previous article at https://coolermed.com/en/lab-supplies-and-storage-conditions/.