NEVER store vaccines in a bar fridge

Vaccine Refrigerators - Purpose Built vs Domestic

Domestic refrigerators have numerous disadvantages when it comes to storing vaccines, some of which are very serious, including:

• They are frequently incapable of complying with the 2-8°C temperature range required for optimal vaccine storage. If the temperature drops to 0°C the vaccines can be frozen rendering them impotent. Elevated temperatures can also make the vaccines impotent. This could lead to patients been given vaccines that won't protect them, and/or you having to discard thousands of dollars worth of vaccines.
• Cyclic defrost refrigerators are not recommended as they have wide temperature fluctuations and heating cycles.
• Bar refrigerators are strongly not recommended because of the risk of freezing, wide temperature fluctuations and susceptibility to ambient temperature.
• Most domestic refrigerators are not fan forced and have poor temperature recovery after the door has been opened.

Vaccine refrigerators closely control temperatures and will alarm if the temperature goes out of specifications. They also record minimum and maximum temperatures.

Vaccine refrigerators all have locks

• Management of a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator is simpler than for a domestic fridge.
• Temperatures are maintained in the 2°C to 8°C range. This minimises the risk of vaccines being stored outside the recommended temperature range and becoming impotent.
• Vaccine refrigerators have good temperature recovery after a door has been opened.
• There is more usable space for storing vaccines as there is no need to stack low drawers and the doors with ice/gel packs and water/salt water bottles as is recommended for domestic fridges.
• Other temperature sensitive medical products such pharmaceuticals may be stored in a vaccine refrigerator.
• External temperature display with minimum and maximum values aids compliance.
• A vaccine refrigerator will alarm when minimum or maximum temperatures are breached.
• A vaccine refrigerator will automatically defrost, whilst maintaining a 2°C to 8°C temperature range.
• Many vaccine refrigerators have a lockable door.
• Vaccine refrigerators are available with glass doors.
• A vaccine refrigerator will meet medical accreditation requirements.
• The Pharmacy Guild requires accredited pharmacists to have purpose built vaccine refrigerator. All pharmacy/vaccine refrigerators sold by SKOEP meet their Quality Care Pharmacy Program.

Vaccine refrigerators are all
Quality Care Pharmacy Program Approved