COVID-19 VACCINES 101
The COVID-19 Vaccine Handling Toolkit provides strategies to support healthcare practitioners.
Maintaining recommended temperatures of COVID-19 Vaccines is important to ensuring their quality.
If pre-drawn syringes are used, consider the following manufacturer-released information supporting stability of vaccine in vials and in pre-drawn syringes.
Storage Compliance Self-Assessment
Does your office provide vaccines or medications?
If you answered "yes", the following information will apply to your office.
Did you know your patients may have received spoiled immunizations or medications if your storage unit was unstable or supplies were mishandled?
When pharmaceuticals are stored in unstable refrigerators, they may lose potency causing inadequate immune response! This could translate into little or no protection! In some cases, patients must be re-vaccinated...
Many health care facilities have spent THOUSANDS of $$$ re-immunizing patients after vaccines were stored incorrectly. If patients need to get re-vaccinated UNNECESSARILY, they will lose their Provider's TRUST and could even held them LIABLE!
If your practice is certified VFC, VFA, CHDP, or accredited by Joint Commission, NCQA, or any other accrediting agency, you must be able to demonstrate vaccine compliance and proper medication storage.
Can you answer "YES" to ALL?
Quality
Warning Signs & Labels
Storage Units
Are you offering the best quality vaccinations/meds as you would like your family to receive? Is it properly documented?
Do patients receive an updated shot record & a current Vaccine Information Statement with each vaccine? Is it documented in the medical record?
Do you review and update policies & procedures to match CDC's current recommendations?
Do you post updated immunization schedules in visible areas?
Do you maintain a current emergency management plan with contacts, thermometers info, storage units info & maintenance log, emergency relocation, staff training, etc?
Do key staff receive training on regular basis on how to prepare coolers in an urgent situation?
On boarding staff receive extensive immunization training and injection technique observation?
Staff receive ongoing updates and education at least annually?
Storage Units
Warning Signs & Labels
Storage Units
Do you use only stand-alone refrigerator/freezer, not dormitory style or combination unit?
Unit does not have glass shelves or freezing cooling plates in the back?
Unit floor, drawers or doors are not being used for vaccines?
Only use perforated baskets for good air circulation?
Designate each shelf/basket and label them accordingly (Private, VFC, Controls, etc.)?
Do not keep food or specimens inside the vaccine storage unit?
Do you keep a RELIABLE transportation cooler and use it with a Data Logger in case of an emergency or when supply needs to be relocated?
Perform regular maintenance to ensure unit continues to function properly?
Warning Signs & Labels
Warning Signs & Labels
Warning Signs & Labels
Are supplies and storage units neatly labeled with ALL the CDC recommended warning signs to reduce the incidence of medication errors?
Use high alert labels?
Storage designation labels (Medications Only, etc)?
Product labels (vaccine names, medications, etc)?
Are boxes labeled Private, VFC, etc?
Do not unplug signs on storage and outlet?
Do not adjust thermostat?
Do not turn off circuit?
Post emergency contact labels and protocols?
Label open & discard dates?
Thermometers
Patient Safety
Warning Signs & Labels
Are you monitoring the temperatures of all storage units with calibrated thermometers & keep the certificates of calibration?
Use one 24-hour data logger thermometer in each vaccine unit? If yes, is data downloaded and reviewed at least every 2 weeks? Is it configured with correct time, date, and sampling intervals?
Keep at least 1 back up data logger and 1 digital thermometer?
Do you monitor temperatures of medication room and all other refrigerators?
Are thermometer batteries replaced regularly and documented?
Is replacement of thermometers documented?
Temperatures
Patient Safety
Patient Safety
Is staff monitoring temperatures twice daily & recording on a log?
Do several persons know how to handle new incoming shipments? Are these promptly stored?
Know what to do if there is a temperature excursion?
How to report excursions? Know who to call? How to find out if vaccines are viable?
Keep logs for at least 3 years?
Keep several gallons of water in the refrigerator and frozen packs or water in the freezer to help with temperature stability?
Is the water labeled "do not drink"?
Patient Safety
Patient Safety
Patient Safety
Is staff labeling EVERY syringe with its content label prior to administration to the patient?
Does a nurse or licensed provider double check the syringes against the order prior to administration?
Are you screening for possible contraindications?
All supplies & shelves labeled?
Rotate expiring soon?
Physically separate & label look alike's & sound alike's (Tdap, Dtap, etc.)?
Label multi-dose vials with "open date and discard date"?
Does staff get vaccinated against Flu or other preventable diseases?
Does staff wear a Flu sticker once they're vaccinated?
Do you keep a current emergency management of reactions protocol with emergency kit?