Maintaining the correct temperature in cold boxes and vaccine carriers

It is just as important to maintain the correct temperature in cold boxes and vaccine carriers as it is in your refrigerator. To do this, you should follow the steps below:

• Place an adequate number of conditioned (melting) ice-packs or chilled water bottles in the cold box or vaccine carrier.
• Always place the cold box or vaccine carrier in the shade – never in a sunny place.
• Avoid opening the lid of your cold box or vaccine carrier except when you are removing a vaccine, and close it again immediately afterwards.
• Use the foam pad above the conditioned ice-packs to hold vials during immunization sessions.

If the ice-packs have completely melted

If you find that the ice-packs inside the cold box or vaccine carrier have completely melted during an immunization session, you should follow the steps below:

• Discard all vials of reconstituted vaccines (BCG and measles).
• Check the VVM status of the vaccines, and return those that can still be used to a refrigerator at the correct temperature as soon as possible.
• Place them in the ‘use first’ box, and use them before other vials at your next immunization session.