Summary: Good practice for using vaccines is essential and entails receiving vaccines without breaking the cold chain, storing vaccines correctly and disposing of them safely.
Who’s it for: Reception, Nurses, HCA and any staff that work with vaccines
Maintenance of cold chain is the responsibility of all staff.
Site Nurses and HCAs are responsible for ensuring: the correct storage and handling of vaccines, that there is enough capacity to store vaccines appropriately in the fridge, that stock is rotated, and that expired vaccines are safely discarded.
Vaccines must be stored between 2°- 8° Celsius immediately, until the point of administration
Any cold chain issues must be reported immediately to Karan 📞 07595 459 320
Refrigerators
- Vaccines should be stored in a lockable vaccine fridge between 2°- 8° Celsius
- Never a domestic fridge with food, or with specimens
- The temperature monitor that will notify staff if temperature goes out of this range (see below: When a thermometer goes out of range)
- Fridge should not be more than 50% full
- Stock should not be stored in fridge doors or in separate drawers at the bottom of the fridge
- Stock should be well spaced, and kept away from the back plate, sides and floor of fridge
- Refrigerators should be cleaned and defrosted regularly
- Minimise unnecessary opening of the fridge door
When a thermometer goes out of range
A notification will be sent to the Reception Lead, and the site Nursing team
- If in working hours & on site → Check the fridge to ensure it is not overstocked & door is shut. Re-check temperature in 20 minutes.
- Out of working hours → Reception Lead to liaise with Karan for someone to visit the site.
- Log the cause of the temperature drop on My Cold Chain
Vaccine fridge installation
- Wait at least 5 hours after delivery before plugging in
- Do NOT position next to a radiator or in direct sunlight
- Allow temperature to reach appropriate level (2°- 8° Celsius) before vaccines are stored
Handling vaccines
Receiving a delivery
Items which are to be kept in cold storage (e.g. vaccines & Glucogen) must not be out of refrigeration for more than 20 minutes
Cold deliveries should take high priority when they arrive. They must be handled carefully to prevent breakage or vaccine quality issues.
- If HCA/Practice Nurse on-site is available, pass directly to them.
- If they're not available, place package directly in the vaccine fridge, and task the Nurse/HCA on EMIS. If they are unlikely to be able to do this by the end of the day, inform your Line Manager.
- For more information on how vaccines are stored, and temperature management see Managing Vaccines & Refrigerators
Administering vaccines
- Vaccines can be placed in cool boxes for sessions of up to 4 hours during Flu clinics
- If a vaccine is not required (e.g. if patient declines) it must be returned to the fridge/cool box immediately
- Remaining doses must go back to fridge and marked to be used first
Disposal of vaccines
- Dispose used and part-filled vaccine vial in a normal yellow-lidded sharps bin.
- Large quantities of unused vials can be disposed of using a pharmacy.
Spillages
- Warn others, and assess if the spillage may cause a safety concern
- After donning a pair of gloves, absorb the spill with paper towels, taking care of any broken glass. This must go in a medical waste bin suitable for pharmaceuticals (see also Waste management)
- Clean down using detergent & water, unless the packaging suggests another process (see also Body fluid spillage protocol)
- Document the waste accurately, and complete a Significant Events
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