Every Dose Counts: Safeguarding Lives Through Proper Vaccine Care

By Kausalyaa Kaliapan

The massive effort and money spent on developing and distributing COVID-19 vaccines will go to waste if they are not stored and handled properly. Correct storage and handling are essential to ensure vaccines work as intended, protecting people and communities from diseases. Mishandling vaccines can weaken their effectiveness, meaning they may not provide enough protection.

COVID-19 vaccines are very sensitive and need specific conditions to stay effective. Factors like changes in temperature, exposure to light, and physical movement can damage them. Each vaccine has its own storage requirements. For example, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored in a very cold freezer at temperatures between -90ºC and -60ºC and kept upright in a dark container until it expires. If moved to a regular refrigerator, it can remain stable at 2ºC to 8ºC for up to 10 weeks, but it cannot be refrozen. Once opened, the vaccine must be used within 12 hours if kept between 2ºC and 25ºC. These guidelines ensure the vaccine remains effective.

To handle these strict requirements, vaccines are distributed through a temperature-controlled system called the “cold chain.” This system ensures vaccines are stored and transported at the right temperature from the manufacturer to healthcare facilities and then to the public. The cold chain includes special freezers and refrigerators, transportation rules, and regular temperature checks to keep the vaccines safe.

Healthcare providers play a key role in this process. They must use high-quality refrigerators and freezers, monitor temperatures with reliable equipment, and check expiration dates regularly. They also need to have backup plans in case of emergencies, like power outages, to ensure vaccines remain safe to use.

Properly storing and handling COVID-19 vaccines is critical because even small mistakes can make them less effective, waste resources, and put public health at risk. By following these best practices, healthcare providers can protect the public, save valuable vaccine supplies, and avoid the costs and inconvenience of revaccination.