| Technically Speaking |
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| Monthly Column by Deborah Wexler, MD |
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| Technically Speaking is a monthly column written by IAC’s Executive Director Deborah Wexler, MD. The column is featured in The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center’s (VEC's) monthly e-newsletter for healthcare professionals. Technically Speaking columns cover practical topics in immunization delivery such as needle length, vaccine administration, cold chain, and immunization schedules. |
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| Check out a recent issue of Vaccine Update for Healthcare Providers. The VEC e-newsletter keeps providers up to date on vaccine-related issues and includes reviews of recently published journal articles, media recaps, announcements about new resources, and a regularly updated calendar of events. |
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| TECHNICALLY SPEAKING |
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| CDC Issues New Requirements for VFC Vaccine Storage |
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| Published
January 2018 |
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CDC’s
Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines at no
cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of
inability to pay. VFC-eligible children are entitled to receive
all vaccines recommended for them by the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP). CDC buys VFC vaccines at a discount
and distributes them via state/local/territorial health agencies
to providers who are enrolled in the VFC program. Among other
program requirements, enrolled VFC providers agree to adhere to
specific guidelines for safe vaccine storage and handling.
Beginning January 1, 2018,
VFC storage and handling guidelines were revised to establish
the following as program requirements (previously these were
federal recommendations, although some areas may already have
established these as state/local VFC requirements):
- VFC providers must use continuous temperature monitoring
devices (digital data loggers or DDLs) to monitor VFC-supplied
vaccines during routine onsite vaccine storage, vaccine
transport, and mass vaccination clinics.
- Both primary and back-up DDLs used to monitor VFC
vaccines must include the following features:
- Capacity for continuous temperature monitoring and the
ability to record and routinely download data.
- Temperature probe is required to be buffered* if purchased
by a state/local immunization program. (The buffered probe is
a recommendation for DDLs purchased by providers.) *Immersed
in an appropriate liquid or solid material that protects the
probe from false readings resulting from sudden temperature
changes when the storage unit door is opened
- Active temperature display that can be easily read from
the outside of the storage unit.
- VFC providers are required to assess and record minimum and
maximum storage unit temperatures at the start of each clinic
day. (See additional information in
CDC’s recently
updated Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.)
Important note: Along with the federal requirements noted
above, providers may have agreed to additional state or local
immunization program requirements as part of
becoming an enrolled VFC provider. These requirements may vary
between state programs. Be sure to consult with your
state/local/territory
immunization program for more information on how to meet
specific state/local/territory VFC
storage and handling requirements.
Related resources
Subscribe to
IAC Express,
IAC’s free weekly information service to help you stay current
on new and updated materials from CDC,
IAC, and others. |
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ACIP Recommendations
Vaccine Information Statements 
