Indian J Pediatr 1988 ; 55 : 460

Letter to the Editor

Sir, Storage of vaccines under optimum

conditions is an important pre-requisite for the success of any immunisation programme. Till a few years ago, entire immunisation coverage was provided by Govt. agencies/hospitals, which supposedly had specific provisions for vaccine sto- rage. Of late, a large number of private practitioners have also started vaccination in their clinics. As a result, vaccines are now freely available across the counter at almost all chemist shops. It need not be emphasised that anyone using vaccines-- from producer to consumer--must have recommended storage facilities.

A non-formal survey was conducted in 16 retail outlets in Ludhiana city to know about the storage practices.

Vaccines sold by retailers included DPT, TA, Measles, MMR, meningococcal vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine and human diploid cell rabies vaccine. None had a separate refrigerator for storing vaccines. The site of choice for keeping the vacci- nes was the door compartment in all but one. Cold packs were conspicious by their absence, although drinking water bottles were stored in the same unit allowing frequent opening of the refrigerator door.

There can't be two opinions that this type of storage practice is fraught with danger. Loss of vaccine potency is an inevitable complication and thereby failure of immunisation. It is no wonder, then, that one sees cases of tetanus or polio

even after specific immunisation. There have been instances, when insulin has been injected in place of DPT due to loss of labels. 1

Against this background, it would be worthwhile to recapitulate the WHO recommendations for storing the vaccines at the peripheral level viz. maintenance of specific temperatures for different vacci- nes, not storing any vaccine in the door compartment, not storing any other drug/ eatable in the same referigerator, locking of the fridge and opening it only when absolutely necessary, and provision of standby power source or cold packs to maintain temperature during power failure. 2

It is of utmost importance that this commercialisation of immunisation should be prevented. In our zeal to attain quantity, we should not sacrifice quality. Every single failure of immunisation due to preventable reasons will lead to a serious erosion of the credibility of our immuni- sation programmes and offset the sus- tained labour of years.

Tejinder Singb, Department of Pediatrics,

Christian Medical College, Ludhiana.

References

1. Immunisation in practice. Part 3 How to give vaccines. EPI/PHW/84/3. WHO 1984 : 20

2. Immunlsation in practice. Par t 1. Vaccines and when to give them. EPI/PHW/84/I . W H O 1984 : 6

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