A vaccine is only as good as the solution used to store it, as many require highly specific temperatures to remain effective. Any deviation from this can have a dramatic impact on a vaccine’s viability and, at worse, render it useless. The WHO estimates that more than 50 percent of vaccines may be wasted globally every year due to temperature control, logistics and shipment-related issues. For our part, Thermo Fisher Scientific strives to provide hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies with the tools they need to deliver every vaccine at full strength and efficacy – and that starts with the right cold storage.

Approaching the COVID-19 Endgame: Cold Chain Management for Vaccines

Ultimate protection for the most sensitive samples

A vaccine is only as good as the solution used to store it, as many require highly specific temperatures to remain effective. Any deviation from this can have a dramatic impact on a vaccine’s viability and, at worse, render it useless. The WHO estimates that more than 50 percent of vaccines may be wasted globally every year due to temperature control, logistics and shipment-related issues. For our part, Thermo Fisher Scientific strives to provide hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies with the tools they need to deliver every vaccine at full strength and efficacy – and that starts with the right cold storage.

Vaccine Modalities Existing Vaccines SARS-CoV-2 in
clinical Trial (as of
November 2020)
Recommended Temperature
Whole Virus Flu, Polio MMR,
Rotavirus
32 Potential Vaccines
in Development
2 ⁰C to 8 ⁰C
Chimeric Yellow Fever
Sub unit Shingles
Virus-like Particle
(VLP)
HPV
Viral Vector Rabies, West Nile,
Canine, distemper
DNA 2 ⁰C to 8 ⁰C
mRNA 6 Potential Vaccines
in Development
70 ⁰C

You shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to storing vaccines – which is why we provide high-performance purpose built refrigerators, freezers, and ultra low freezers that are designed to meet current and impending standards from the CDC, WHO, NSF and other global agencies for vaccine storage.

Vaccine storage guidelines and temperatures

The vaccine “cold chain” maintains product quality from the time of manufacture until the point of administration. If the cold chain is not properly maintained, vaccine potency may be lost, resulting in a useless vaccine supply. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vaccine Storage Handling Tool Kit, updated annually, provides the following guidelines and recommendations for proper vaccine storage:

  • Use purpose-built or pharmaceutical-grade units designed to either refrigerate or freeze. These units can be compact, under-the-counter style or large.
  • Microprocessor-based temperature control with a digital temperature sensor (thermocouple, resistance temperature detector [RTD], or thermistor)
  • Fan-forced air circulation with powerful fans or multiple cool air vents promoting uniform temperature and fast temperature recovery from an out-of-range temperature.
  • Refrigerators should maintain temperatures between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F)*
  • Freezers should maintain temperatures between -50°C and -15°C (-58°F and +5°F)

*Probes that are permanently embedded in a buffer are acceptable as long as the temperature monitoring system for the entire unit can be calibration-tested.

Wireless monitoring and data logging for vaccine storage

The CDC also recommends the use of a continuous monitoring and recording digital data logger (DDL) (hyperlink to new tab) to provide the most accurate storage unit temperature information. An accurate temperature history and continuous monitoring of temperatures is critical to protecting your vaccines, and every vaccine storage unit should have its own temperature monitoring device. A dependable data logger is less expensive than replacing wasted vaccines. Based on CDC recommendations, a DDL must comes standard with the following features:

  • Detachable probe that best reflects vaccine temperatures
  • Alarm for out-of-range temperatures
  • Low battery indicator
  • Current, minimum and maximum temperature display
  • Recommended uncertainty of +/- 0.5oC (+/-1 oF)
  • Logging interval (or reading rate) that can be programmed by the user to measure and record temperatures at least every 30 minutes
  • A valid Certificate of Calibration Testing (ISO17025/ NIST or equivalent)



Contact Us

Would you like to sign up for the newsletter from Thermo Fisher Scientific (including its affiliates) and receive regular updates on the latest applications, events and product information?
*By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted by a Thermo Fisher Scientific Specialist/Sales Representative.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (including its affiliates) processes your information as set out in the Privacy Information Centre which includes information about your rights. We may use your Personal Information to contact you about our products/services, events or other information we feel may be of interest to you.
You may unsubscribe to our newsletter by clicking the unsubscribe link in the emails received


Article content reference link: https://www.thermofisher.com/my/en/home/life-science/lab-equipment/cold-storage/vaccine-cold-storage-solutions.html?SID=fr-coldstorage-7