Cold Chain

Cold chain and Logistics Management

Refrigerators:

1. Electric refrigerators: most comfortable equipment for maintenance but must have a reliable electricity supply.

2. Ice-lined refrigerators:  can maintain the required temperature for 16 hours.

Requirements of a refrigerator:

A refrigerator should have a capacity to store:

1. A one-month supply of vaccines and diluent

2. A one- to two-week reserve stock of vaccines

3. Frozen ice packs or bottles

Cold Boxes:

They are insulated and help to keep vaccines at the required temperature. They are used by Health Centre staff to collect and transport monthly vaccine supplies from district stores.

The cold life of cold boxes is two to eight days.

Vaccine Carriers:

These are insulated containers that can be lined with frozen ice packs to keep vaccines and diluents cold. They do not stay cold for long (may stay cold for only 24-72) hours and are smaller than cold boxes and easier to carry.

The type of vaccine carrier depends on the:

1. Number of vaccine vials

2. Diluents

3. Ice packs to be transported