Vaccines are an important medical product that is especially sensitive to the health emergency caused by COVID-19. The right cooling makes a difference and can save lives. But why is it so important where and how vaccines are stored? In this article we will define what is the cold chain and what are the fundamental differences between a scientific refrigerator and a domestic refrigerator.
The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic poses several challenges. One is how we will ensure that vaccines reach the entire population, because they require very special conditions for transport and storage. The key is the cold chain.
It should be noted that vaccines are one of the most sensitive medical products to climate change, so it is very important to preserve the cold chain and thus avoid any unnecessary risks that may hinder its objective: fight against a virus.
What is the cold chain?
The cold chain is the logistic process for the conservation of immunobiological products (vaccines, blood bags, reagents), from the producer laboratory to the user, which includes the reception, storage, distribution and transport steps, in a timely and efficient way, ensuring the preservation of its original characteristics.
Therefore, it is necessary to keep them refrigerated constantly, using suitable facilities and equipment in all cases: national, state, regional or district and municipal/local. Improper handling, defective equipment, or a lack of electrical power can disrupt the refrigeration process, compromising the potency and effectiveness of vaccines and the health of vaccine recipients.
? Why use a scientific refrigerator to store covid vaccines?
Small temperature variations that frequently occur in household refrigerators can compromise the effectiveness of biological products, risking the loss of very valuable material such as vaccines, and at significant costs to institutions.
Research shows a significant number of vaccine losses annually due to poor refrigeration, and up to 35% of vaccines are affected by inadequate storage.
These high values, together with current quality standards and requirements, make it essential to use scientific refrigeration equipment designed specifically for the storage of these products.
As for the covid vaccine, we have Pfizer doses requiring prolonged storage at -70°C, while Moderna doses must be kept at -20°C in the long run. Both can last for shorter periods in a normal refrigerator, where temperatures range from 2°C to 8°C. Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored and transported long-term at temperatures in a normal refrigerator.
In any of the above scenarios, the application of these vaccines on a global scale requires a huge expansion in the capacity of the cold chain, so that they remain adequately refrigerated.
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