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Vaccine cold storage
National Patient Safety Agency report
Dr Allan Tennant reports
29th of January 2010
The NPSA published a report on vaccine cold storage on the 21st of January.
To remain potent, vaccines must be stored within the temperature range recommended by manufacturers [+2˚C to +8˚C]. Some vaccines are particularly susceptible to becoming inactive if stored below +2°C.
The NPSA requests that providers are:
Aware of relevant policy on safe storage. Local policies should include having a designated person and deputy for receipt and storage of vaccines.
Adhere to relevant policy for vaccine cold chain storage. This includes reviewing refrigerator temperature readings in a manner that will identify if vaccines have been stored outside of manufacturers' recommended temperature ranges before they are administered to patients.
Have procedures in place for remedial action where vaccines are stored outside manufacturers' recommended temperature ranges, and ensure departments and providers are aware of these.
260 reports of problems with vaccine storage reported from 1st of January 2005 till 1st of April 2009.
| Theme | Number of reported incidents |
| Wrong storage of vaccines | 80 |
| Storage at wrong temperature range | 74 |
| Fridge being switched off | 23 |
| Broken fridge | 22 |
| Power cut | 21 |
| Poor storage conditions for vaccines | 9 |
| Fridge door left open | 8 |
| Lack of temperature monitoring | 8 |
| Other | 7 |
| Lack of, or inadequate, equipment | 5 |
| Use of a domestic fridge | 3 |
| Total 260 | 260 |
The report then gives examples of want went wrong.
Appendix 2 provides a Risk Assessment Tool
Appendix 3 provides a summary of the existing recommendations provided by DH
Appendix 5 is an implementation check-list
Someone in your practice needs to check that you are meeting all requirements to ensure patient safety.