for study students

1. COLD CHAIN

2. INRODUCTION
 A system of storing and transporting the vaccine, at
a low temperature from place to place of
manufacture to the actual vaccination site is called
‘’cold chain’’.
 Right from manufacturer of vaccine to health
workers at the grass root level, contribute
significantly in cold chain.

4. Importance
 Obtaining the vaccine from the manufacturers
 Storing and transporting the vaccines
 Maintaining the supply of vaccines.
 Having information about essential equipments, supply of
electricity etc.
 Keeping the vaccines at the temperature suggested by
manufacturer.
 Protecting the vaccine from sunlight and anti-septic substances.
 Maintaining the potency of vaccines by following all above-
mentioned points

5. Components of cold-Chain
 APPARATUS
 SUPPLIES
 MANUAL EFFORTS
 TRANSPORTATION
 COMMUNICATION

6. APPARATUS/EQUIPMENTS
 These can be kept in 2 category
 1st
category includes those equip. Which keep the
vaccine at 4-8 degree Celsius
 2nd
category, which freezes the vaccine.
 Size varries, from small to walk in coolers

8. Supplies
 Vaccine and solvents are 2 main components of cold
chain supplies.
 These are kept in the lowest temp.
 Vaccines of polio,TB, measles can be kept in frozen
condition.
 But vaccines of DPT,DT,TT loses their potency if kept
in frozen condition

9. Manual efforts
 People who are working with the
manufacturer ,health officers, health workers and
those storing and transporting the vaccine ,works
together to maintain the cold chain .
 Ppl involved in this should be thoroughly trained
About equipments,supplies.transportation,storage,
preservation and communication

11. Transportation
 To maintain the potency of vaccines,a rapid means
of transport should be used,
 A specific temp. Should be maintained
 Therefore heat resistant equipment should be used
in the journey.
 Refrigerators should be arranged in the trucks.
 Aeroplane are also used to save time.

12. Communication
 A reliable and effective communication system is
must for the cold chain .
 All information and orders associated with cold
chain should be immediately and clearly, sent and
received.

14. Equipments
 Vaccine carrier
 Cold packs/ice packs
 Day carriers
 Cold boxes
 Refrigerator
 Deep freezers
 Ice-lined refrigerators
 Walk in coolers

15. Vaccine carrier
 These are suitable fro carrying small quantities of vaccine-
HSB,VILLAGES,SATELLITE &SMALL TOWN
 Heat resistant material and light weight
 Carried in one hand or shoulder easily
 Four pack of ice are kept in four sides.
 Ice completely frozen and lid of vaccine of lid should be tightly
closed.
 2 day at tem of 32-43 degree celsius.
 Properly clean from inside,withou cracks and lid hsould be
closed .
 4 ice pack not 2.

18. Cold packs/ice packs
 Flat bottles of plastics
 Filled with water and deep freezed for 6 hours- no
salt
 Used in the vaccine carrier.

19. Day carriers
 Vaccine can be kept for a day
 Thermocol and thermo flask
 Cold packs are used in this.

20. Cold boxes
 Are used to collect and transport monthly supplies
of vaccine from district store- health facilities
 They are used when ice-line refrigerator is out of
order
 And when defrost the freezer to keep frozen ice
packs

22. Refridgerator
 This is important
 Vaccines of polio,TB, measles can be kept in frozen
condition.
 But vaccines of DPT,DT,TT typhoid etc-cold part.

24. Deep freezers
 Are kept at PHC-(140L)
 DISTRICT LEVEL-(330 L)
 At PHC used only fro making ice-packs
 The cabinet temp-(18-20)deg.C
 Power failure- 18-26.

25. Ice lined refridgerator
 Have a top opening and lines with the pipes of ice or ice packs
 Which maintains temp, at time of power failure
 Once the pipe is frozen, can work for 24 hours, with 8 hours of
supply
 Used to store vaccine at PHC.
 NO FREEZER COMPARTMENTS
 HENCE CAN FREEZE ICE PACKS
 All vacc. Is kept in the basket of ILR along with diluents.
 A thermometer is placed in the basket along with vaccine-
correct temp.

27. Walk in cooler
 This is refridgetor of the size of a room (10x10) in
which all types of vacc. Can be kept safe.
 At district health centr ,vaccine are stored in these
walk in coolers only.
 Cooler have arrangement to keep the vaccine at
the appro. Temp for long hours, even if the supply
of electricity is interrupted

29. Potency test
 The proceess ofinvestigating the effectiveness of
vacc. Is known as potency test
 Should not loose its effectiveness,to ensure this
 Essential to conduct potency test.
 Lack of app potency- will not generate immunity.

30. Methods of controlling cold chain
 Keep the vaccine in appro condition, as sugg. By manufacturer
 Follow the precautn while transporting the vacc.
 Record the temp of storage place twice a day and preparing
the temp chart
 Maintaining the equipment of cold chain and appr.
Functioning of its components, conducting potency test from
time to time
 Keep communication system effective and latest.
 Train all the ppl associated with vacc. about maintenance and
control of cold chain