L2.7.10: Storage and Transport Equipment

• Storage Equipment

  • Walk-in cold Rooms
  • Deep Freezers
  • Ice Lined Refrigerators

  Transportation Equipment

  • Cold Boxes
  • Vaccine Carriers
  • Day Carriers
• Walk-in Cold Rooms

  ● Stored at regional level

  ● Vaccines can be stored for up to 3 months

  ● The biggest of all storage equipment

  ● +2 degrees celsius to +8 degrees celsius
• Deep Freezers

  ● Stored at the district and primary health care levels

  ● Maintains a temperature of -15 degrees celsius to -25 degrees celsius

  ● At primary health care levels, it is used for the preparation of ice packs (Usually line the cold boxes or vaccine carriers)
• Ice Lined Refrigerators

  ● Found at district and primary health care levels

  ● Maintains a temperature of +2 degrees celsius to +8 degrees celsius

  ● The top opening can hold cold air inside better than front opening refrigerators
• Cold Boxes

  An insulated container which can be lined by water packs in order to allow vaccines and diluents to maintain their temperatures.

  ● Can be used for short term storage

  ● Used to carry small quantity of vaccines (16 to 20 vials)

  ● For out of reach sessions

  ● 4 ice packs are used

  ● Should not be opened and closed unless vaccine is needed

  ● Can store for up to 2 days or more
• Vaccine Carriers

  These are smaller than cold boxes and are much easier to carry around. The currently qualified vaccine carrier has:

  ● A cold life of frozen ice packs of between 18 and 50 hours (placed at bottom and sides)

  ● Approximately 3 water packs inside
• Vaccine Carriers

  ● Used for transport of vaccines

  ● DPT, TT, and DT vaccines should not be kept in direct contact with ice packs.
• Day Carriers

  The smallest transport equipment that

  ● Uses 2 ice packs

  ● Hold vaccines for only 2 hours

  ● Used to carry very small quantities of vaccines (6-8 vials)

  ● For nearby sessions
• What can Healthcare Workers do to Adequately Protect Vaccines at a Health Facility?

  1. Keep vaccines in appropriate vaccine refrigerator equipment

  2. Use a temperature monitoring device to ensure adequate temperature levels

  3. Transport vaccines to immunization sessions in a vaccine carrier, correctly packed, using coolant packs that have been properly prepared
• What can Healthcare Workers do to Adequately Protect Vaccines at a Health Facility?

  4. During immunization sessions, fit a foam pad at the top of the vaccine carrier

  ○ Foam Pad - Soft sponge material that fit on top of water packs (Used during immunization sessions to secure open vials)

  Health Workers Can also Use a Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM)