Technically Speaking |
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Monthly Column by Deborah Wexler, MD |
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IAC Executive Director Dr. Deborah Wexler writes
Technically Speaking, a column featured in each issue of
Vaccine Update for Healthcare Professionals,
the monthly e-newsletter from the Vaccine Education Center
(VEC) at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Technically Speaking columns cover practical topics in
immunization delivery such as vaccine administration
techniques, storage and handling, contraindications and
precautions, and scheduling. |
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Subscribe to VEC's
Vaccine Update for Healthcare Professionals to stay up to date
on vaccine-related issues, including reviews of recently
published journal articles, media recaps, and announcements
about new resources and webinars. To subscribe, visit the
Vaccine Update Newsletter Sign-up Form |
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The
archive of past Technically Speaking columns is also available through links on the right side of this web page. |
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TECHNICALLY SPEAKING |
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CDC releases 2020 version of its
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit |
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Published
January 2020 |
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CDC's
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit has just been updated
for 2020. This 48-page guide reflects the best practices for
vaccine storage and handling compiled from ACIP recommendations,
product information from vaccine
manufacturers, and scientific studies. Changes in the 2020
Toolkit provide clarifying language and new definitions only,
i.e., no new recommendations have been implemented. Updated
language may be found on the following topic areas:
- Frequency of checking temperatures in vaccine storage units –
Language has been added to clarify a recommendation first
included in the 2018 Toolkit, when CDC recommended that
storage units being monitored by a temperature monitoring device
(TMD) that records min/max* temperatures needed to have the
temperature checked only once each day. The 2020 update clarifies
that TMDs that do not read min/max temperatures should be checked
2 times a day, at the start and end of the workday.
*A "min/max" TMD provides readings for the coolest
(minimum) and warmest (maximum) temperature readings in a storage
unit over a set period of time. After the readings are reviewed,
the TMD is reset and the process is repeated until the next
reading.
- Defrosting manual-defrost freezers – The Toolkit
provides guidance that defrosting of manual-defrost freezers
should take place "when the frost exceeds either 1 cm or the
manufacturer's suggested limit."
- Adjustment of storage unit temperatures – CDC inserted
language noting that storage unit temperatures should be
stabilized "between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F) for a
refrigerator…" Previous language also provided a suggested
midpoint target of "around 5°C (40°F)." IAC has confirmed with
CDC that, although the vaccine may be correctly stored anywhere
within the stated temperature range, it is still appropriate to
aim for the midpoint, i.e., "aim for 5°C." Therefore, this
wording will be retained on IAC's
temperature monitoring logs.
- Beyond Use Date – The 2020 Toolkit clarifies that, if
a vaccine has no Beyond Use Date (BUD), the expiration date
provided by the manufacturer should be used.
- New/updated definitions – A new definition is now included
for "portable vaccine storage unit," and the definition for
"qualified container and packout" has been clarified.
Related Links
From CDC
From IAC
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This page was updated on
January 27, 2020. |
This page was reviewed on
January 27, 2020. |
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