Vaccine Fridges – Purpose Built vs Domestic

NEWS FLASH – According to the latest National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: Strive for 5, domestic fridges may no longer be used for the storage of vaccines.

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

• They are often 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, maling them impotent. Elevated temperatures can also make the vaccines ineffective. This could lead to patients been given vaccines that won’t protect them, and the disposal of thousands of dollars worth of vaccines.
• Cyclic defrost refrigerators aren’t 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 tightly control the temperature and will alarm if the temperature goes out of specifications. They also record minimum and maximum temperatures.
• Vaccine refrigerators all have door locks.

Purpose-built vaccine refrigerators like the ones that ENLAKE sells offer numerous advantages, including:

• Management of a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator is more straightforward 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 excellent 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 or water bottles as is recommended for domestic fridges.
• Other temperature-sensitive medical products such as 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 while 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 a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator. All single door pharmacy/vaccine refrigerators sold by ENLAKE meet their Quality Care Pharmacy Program. Larger fridges are built for hospital use but may be used in a pharmacy after testing.