Guidance for Busy Clinics on Prefilling Your Own Syringes
September 2011
Technically Speaking | |
|
|
![]() |
|
|
|
|
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING | |
Guidance for Busy Clinics on Prefilling Your Own Syringes | |
Published September 2011 | |
Information presented in this article may have changed since the original publication date. For the most current immunization recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, visit www.immunize.org/acip/acip_vax.asp. | |
The Immunization Action Coalition (IAC) frequently receives email inquiries from immunization staff asking if they can draw up vaccine into syringes ahead of time, especially before busy influenza or back-to-school vaccination clinics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages the practice of prefilling syringes because it can result in these undesirable outcomes: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prefilling syringes might also violate basic medication administration guidelines, which state that an individual should administer only those medications he or she has prepared and drawn up him or herself. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Although pre-drawing vaccine is discouraged, immunization staff may pre-draw a limited amount of vaccine in a mass-immunization clinic setting if the following conditions apply: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the end of the clinic day, discard any remaining syringes prefilled by staff. Never save these syringes for another day, and never attempt to put the vaccine dose back into a vial. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As an alternative to personally prefilling syringes, CDC recommends using manufacturer-supplied prefilled syringes, which are designed both for storage and administration. However, keep in mind that once you remove the syringe cap or attach a needle, the sterile seal is broken. You should either use the syringe or discard it at the end of the clinic day. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|