Improving vaccination cold chain in the general practice setting.

BACKGROUND

This study compared temperature control in different types of vaccine storing refrigerators in general practice and tested knowledge of general practice staff in vaccine storage requirements.

METHODS

Temperature data loggers were set to serially record the temperature within vaccine refrigerators in 28 general practices, recording at 12 minute intervals over a period of 10 days on each occasion. A survey of vaccine storage knowledge and records of divisions of general practice immunisation contacts were also obtained.

RESULTS

There was a significant relationship between type of refrigerator and optimal temperature, with the odds ratio for bar style refrigerator being 0.005 (95% CI: 0.001-0.044) compared to the purpose built vaccine refrigerators. Score on a survey of vaccine storage was also positively associated with optimal storage temperature.

DISCUSSION

General practices that invest in purpose built vaccine refrigerators will achieve standards of vaccine cold chain maintenance significantly more reliably than can be achieved through regular cold chain monitoring and practice supports.