[The vaccine cold chain in a Valencian health department (Spain)]

Analysis of vaccine loss due to temperature change

OBJECTIVES

to analyze vaccine losses in a Health Region in the Northwest of São Paulo.

METHODS

retrospective cross-sectional study with secondary data obtained from Temperature Change Notification Forms used by the Epidemiological Surveillance Group XXIX of São José do Rio Preto between 2010 and 2017. Descriptive and inferential analysis were performed using multiple linear regression and significance level of 95%.

RESULTS

in total, 341 notifications of temperature changes were analyzed, of which 70.1% were caused by structural reasons, 57.8% in industrial refrigerators and 91.2% in primary care services. Of the doses that suffered a change in temperature, 41.4% were lost and 58.6% were administered to the population. The highest percentage of lost doses compared to those applied occurred in smaller municipalities, although they reported less.

CONCLUSIONS

nursing workers who work in vaccination rooms should make efforts to prevent temperature changes and avoid losses and higher public expenses.

[Vaccine cold chain interruption in a primary care center and economic evaluation]

OBJECTIVES

Cold chain control is one of the most important facts to ensure the effectiveness of vaccines links, which requires specific material and human resources for management. The principal objective is to evaluate the interruptions in cold chain of the last 6 years and the possible cost savings that would result in further improvements.

METHOD

A retrospective and descriptive study based on a review of all cold chain interruptions during the last 6 years, at Valdefierro Primary Health Center.

RESULTS

We had 5 interruptions, the maximum temperature reached was 23.1±3.4°C and the longest interruption lasted 25.2±20.7hours. 1611 vaccines were affected and 165 discarded. Total economic loss was 2.098,10 € and 33.611,64 € were savings. The electrical failure was the disruption cause in 5 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Equipment and staff are essential. The center did some corrective actions, such as minimizing refrigerator time control, minimum stock control, considering population changes, and the center has requested a electrical supply system.