Contingency planning
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Read the vaccine storage and handling guidelines; ensure a hard copy is available for staff.
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Have a contingency plan for equipment malfunction, power outage or other emergencies. This should include a partnership with another cold chain site who could assist with temporary storage of your vaccines if needed.
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Have a cooler with its own max-min thermometer on site available for short term vaccine storage and transportation of your vaccines.
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Assign staff members as the primary cold chain contact and back up contact responsible for vaccine management.
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Vaccine refrigeration storage
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Purpose-built vaccine fridge (preferred).
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Domestic stand-alone fridge (with modifications to ensure stability).
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Domestic bar size fridge is not recommended.
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Ensure your fridge is placed away from direct sunlight, away from external walls and in a space that has good airflow.
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Have a “Do not unplug” sticker by the electrical outlet so it is not accidentally unplugged or turned off. Utilize generator outlets whenever possible.
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Ensure your fridge is serviced and maintained in good working order with adequate door seals and locks.
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Vaccine storage
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Keep vaccines organized by product and in their original boxes to protect from light damage.
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Use short expiring dated vaccines and red dotted vaccines first; only take vaccines out of the fridge when ready to use.
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Store only what your fridge has capacity for. Ministry guidelines state no more than one month’s vaccine supply at any time.
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No storage of vaccine allowed in any doors or drawers of fridge at any time.
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Temperature monitoring device
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Use of a data logger (preferred) or digital max/min thermometer, with ability to measure in 0.1 degree increments, is required.
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Temperature sensor must be placed on the middle shelf, in an empty vaccine box.
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Batteries of your max/min device need to be changed at least every six months.
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Test your device for accuracy annually.
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Set device alarms to sound at 3°C to 7°C .
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Temperature documentation
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Twice daily documentation is required; document at the beginning and end of each day.
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Must include time of documentation, date, current, max and min temperatures with each reading and must reset the max-min each time.
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Ensure temperatures are maintained between 2°C to 8°C .
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Cold chain incidents
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Contact KFL&A Public Health as soon as an out-of-range temperature is discovered.
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Report directly to the immunization nurse on call at 613-549-1232, ext. 0.
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Implement contingency plans if the fridge remains unstable.
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