All vaccines have clearly defined expiration dates. The expiration dates depend on the kind of vaccines, the underlying bio agent that constitutes it, as well as its sensitivity. Vaccines are very sensitive to light, heat and temperature. So, excessive exposure to any of these three elements can potentially render the entire vaccine stock useless. Some vaccines are the multiple-dose type and other are of the single-dose type. The latter type cannot be reused once the seal is broken.

All vaccines are supplied in tightly sealed vials. Only trained and authorized personnel are allowed to handle vaccines. It is highly advisable to have at least two lab personnel handling vaccines to administer them at any given point in time. Vaccines and diluents have the expiration dates clearly printed on the boxes that they are packed in. This expiration date may vary depending on the stock and the date it was packed. All vaccines come with an insert that lets the personnel know the last date beyond which the vaccine can no longer be used.

If the marked expiration dates of the vaccine mentions only the month and year, how would we know if it can be used till the last day of that specified month or the previous month? This is definitely one of the most common doubts around interpreting the expiration dates of vaccines. The answer is in a situation like this, it would be safe to assume that the vaccine can be used till the end of the particular month that is printed on the box. You can even include the last day of that month. However, under no condition should be the vaccine be used or stored in the lab beyond this date.

Rotavirus, varicella, MMR, MMRV, HPV and zoster vaccines are highly sensitive to light. Some vaccines like the MMR vaccine must be administered within eight hours of reconstituting it. Other vaccines like the zoster, varicella, MMRV vaccines have to be used within the first half hour of reconstitution. If the vaccines have an expiration dates within 120 days of reaching the lab, they must be checked even more strictly for their potency. The pharmaceutical labs which supply these labs provide an expiration date based on the assumption that the vaccines have been transported under ideal conditions. Therefore, it would be highly advisable to use the vaccines a little before their listed expiration date.

Vaccine refrigerators provide large amounts of storage space. The space can be efficiently utilized by lab personnel to maintain a detailed inventory of all the vaccines by storing them in a single central location. Boxes with earlier expiration dates must be placed above the ones with a later expiration date.

While this procedure may seem inconsequential, it nevertheless contributes to efficient use of the vaccines. These small steps will ensure that no critical mistakes are made when a lab stores vaccines and diluents in large quantities. Under these circumstances, it becomes imperative for labs, hospitals and large medical establishments to procure a high-quality vaccine refrigerator.

Author Bio: Dr. Bob Sandor is a Director at Tovatech, a leading North American supplier of vaccine refrigerator units. When not busy running his company, he explores his fascination with the many aspects of various scientific & industrial devices. For more details on the above you can reach him through the laboratory & medical refrigerator freezers section of his website.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: vaccine,vaccine refrigerator,vaccine storage,vaccine expiration date,medical refrigerator