Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Summary
We study provider-level vaccine storage and temperature monitoring methods to develop best practice guidance for public health audiences.
Description
Alexandra Rodriguez demonstrating the broken contact style of data logger.
Our group examines best practices for the storage and monitoring of vaccines in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vaccine Supply and Assurance Branch. Vaccines are highly temperature sensitive, and inappropriate storage conditions can render them ineffective. Healthcare providers rely on refrigerators, freezers, thermometers, and transport systems to keep their vaccines safe prior to administration.
The project was initiated in support of the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program, which distributes approximately $4 billion worth of federally-subsidized vaccines to underinsured U.S. children each year. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our group has pivoted to assist with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, addressing critical questions related to the transport and monitoring of frozen vaccine. We’ve also played a vital role in the first effort to standardize vaccine storage equipment in the U.S., through the development of an NSF/ANSI standard.
Research topics include:
- Provider-level vaccine transport, including packout preparation using coolers, conditioned frozen water bottles, and phase change material (PCM) cold packs
- Vaccine clinic operations requiring vaccine transport, temporary storage, and repeated opening of a cooler
- Vaccine temperature monitoring, including digital data loggers (DDLs) and calibration strategies
- Vaccine storage equipment, including consumer grade and purpose-built or pharmaceutical grade refrigerators and freezers
Related VideO
