POST 00693E : APPROACHES TO ELIMINATING FREEZING : A STUDY REPORT

POST 00693E : APPROACHES TO ELIMINATING FREEZING : A STUDY REPORT Follow-up on Post 00684E 3 July 2004 _______________________________ Alejo Bejemino (mailto:[email protected]) shares the Afghan experience in the transport of freeze-sensitive vaccines. _______________________________ Many thanks for sharing the results of the study and the recommendations. It is a very helpful document and will guide people in the field on how to avoid freezing of the freeze-sensitive vaccines. In Afghanistan we are using the ice pack conditioning method for the delivery of freeze-sensitive vaccines from the National cold store to the Regional/Provincial cold store. At 22°-32°C ambient temperature the cold life of 45-90 hours may still not be exceeded. Since this method was used we have not received a freezing problem report from the field. For outreach immunization activity where vaccinators are taking all types of vaccines in a vaccine carrier, the method of ½ ice, ½ room-temperature water is the best method. Vaccinators don't want to wait for icepacks to be conditioned as they have to travel early. However I'm still anticipating problem of vaccine freezing during winter when the ambient temperature is negative. I suggest that a study be conducted on this to obtain the ideal condition to handle the freeze-sensitive vaccines. Thank you and regards. Alejo H. Bejemino EPI Cold Chain Consultant UNICEF-ACO Kabul, Afghanistan ______________________________________________________________________________ Visit the TECHNET21 Website at http://www.technet21.org You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features. ______________________________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : mailto:[email protected] Leave the subject area BLANK In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E ______________________________________________________________________________ The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Claude Letarte and is hosted in cooperation with the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement, Québec, Canada (http://www.ccisd.org) ______________________________________________________________________________