The Key to Successful Vaccine Storage

The key to successfully completing vaccination campaigns is safely storing the vaccines until they are administered. Every time vaccines encounter heat, cold, or light, they lose efficacy. In order to maintain an ideal environment, vaccines are often stored in dedicated refrigerators and freezers—or ultralow temperature freezers (ULTs) 

To ensure successful vaccine storage and avoid catastrophic vaccine loss, you should select and understand your units. Because different vaccines have different temperature requirements, choose a pharmaceutical-grade or purpose-built cold storage unit that can effectively maintain the target temperature range. On average, refrigerators designed to store vaccines operate within the range of 2℃ to 8℃, freezers between -50℃ and +5℃, while ULTs reach ultra cold temperatures (-86℃ to -60℃) that standard freezers cannot reach.

Reliable storage and temperature monitoring are essential to maintain the cold chain and avoid catastrophic vaccine loss.

When it comes to ULTs, compressor type can affect unit longevity. A single-compressor system has one cooling cycle, while the compressors in a dual system operate in overlapping shifts, sharing the load for better longevity. 

Moreover, consider how much space is needed to store the vaccines correctly. In general, vaccines should be stored 2 to 3 inches from the inside walls and ceiling to facilitate air circulation inside the unit, which helps maintain a uniform temperature and quick temperature recovery after opening doors.