Vaccine storage standards, developed in line with KASH standards, is to ensure quality at all levels of storage and distribution.
The Health Department has, as part of its quality improvement drive, Kerala Accreditation Standards for Healthcare (KASH) being implemented within the health system, has gone a notch up by drawing up standards for vaccine stores across the State.
“We are in the process of implementing the standards across our State, regional and district vaccine stores, as a crucial step in maintaining the quality of vaccines being distributed within the system and the quality of the distribution chain itself.
“This is very important for maintaining the efficacy of our immunisation programme,” said K. Sandeep, Senior Consultant (Monitoring and Evaluation), National Health Mission.
KASH standards
The vaccine storage standards, developed in line with the KASH standards, is to ensure quality at all levels of vaccine storage and distribution, including infrastructure in vaccine stores, temperature recording, documentation and monitoring the safety and viability (potency) of vaccines.
Cold chain system
Maintenance of an impeccable cold chain system is the backbone of all immunisation programmes and the system was introduced in the State health system during 1985-90, in a phased manner as part of the Universal Immunisation Programme.
Cold chain equipment was provided to the State by the Centre and the UNICEF to strengthen the immunisation programme at the State, regional levels, right down to the block primary health centre vaccine stores.
By 1999, all institutions under the State Health services, including PHCs, had acquired Ice-Lined Refrigerators (ILRs) and deep freezers.
Potency
Vaccines are sensitive to heat and exposure to heat can affect its potency and life. Most vaccines (inactivated ) should be stored at 2-8 degree C, which is the basic refrigerator temperature, while live attenuated vaccines should be kept frozen, at -15 degree C or lower. MMR vaccine, though a live vaccine, can either be stored in the freezer or in the refrigerator.
GoI norms
“The GoI guidelines are already in place for vaccine carriage and transport and we are fixing standards for the vaccine storage part.
“We have just handed over the standards to our vaccine stores.
“Our quality assurance officers and biomedical engineers will visit the stores and help them implement these standards,” Dr. Sandeep pointed out.
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