This page features background information and guidance on freeze prevention in the immunization supply chain, also known as the cold chain, as it relates to passive containers. Section 1 provides a high-level overview of the impact of freezing vaccines, and Section 2 shares passive technologies that prevent freezing in passive containers and related activities. Sections 3 and 4 contain literature on the effects of freezing temperatures on vaccine potency and instances of freezing in the cold chain. The final section gives additional resources supporting the introduction of new freeze-preventive passive containers.
- Freeze prevention and why it is important
- New freeze-preventive technologies
- Literature on vaccine potency
- Examples of freezing in the cold chain
- Additional information and resources
1. Freeze prevention and why it is important
The following resources underscore the negative effects of exposing vaccines to freezing temperatures.
| Titre | Auteur | Année | Type | Langue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Above Zero: Strategies to Prevent Vaccine Freezing | PATH | 2013 | Training | Anglais |
| Effects of freezing on vaccine potency | PATH | 2003 | Guidance | Anglais |
| Freezing temperatures in the vaccine cold chain: A systematic literature review | Carib Nelson, Dipika M. Matthias, Joanie Robertson, Michelle M. Garrison, Sophie Newland | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Is freezing in the vaccine cold chain an ongoing issue? A literature review | Adama Sawadogo, Anupa M. George, Benjamin Schreiber, Celina M. Hanson | Journal article | Anglais |
2. New freeze-preventive technologies
The following table contains the activities stakeholders are engaged in to prevent freeze exposure in the supply chain.
3. Literature on vaccine potency
The following resources underscore the negative effects of exposing vaccines to freezing temperatures.
| Titre | Auteur | Année | Type | Langue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessing the potency and immunogenicity of inactivated poliovirus vaccine after exposure to freezing temperatures | Abhijeet Anand, Cynthia J. Snider, Dexiang Chen, Diana Kouiavskaia, Edmond F. Maes, Eric Stevens, Howard E. Gary Jr., Jacqueline Fournier-Caruana, Jessica A. White, Konstantin Chumakov, M. Steven Oberste, Marcus Estrada, William C. Weldon | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Cold chain study: danger of freezing vaccines | P. Milhomme | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Comparison of hepatitis B vaccine coverage and effectiveness among urban and rural Mongolian 2-year-olds | Ann Marie Kimball, Arslan Rinchin, J. Khulan, James S. Edstam, Nyamkhuu Dulmaa, Pagbajabyn Nymadawa | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Effects of freezing on DPT and DPT-IPV vaccines, adsorbed | A. Bell, D. Scheifele, R. Dimayuga | Journal article | Anglais, Français | |
| Factors affecting the immunogenicity and potency of tetanus toxoid: implications for the elimination of neonatal and non-neonatal tetanus as public health problems | A. Galazka, F. van Loon, S. Cochi, V. Dietz | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Hepatitis B vaccine | Arlene A. McLean, Raymond Shaw Jr. | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Hepatitis B vaccine in healthy hospital employees | R. Normand, R. Silberman, S. A. Klotz | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Performance and potency of tetanus toxoid: implications for eliminating neonatal tetanus | F. van Loon, J. B. Milstien, J. Bennett, S. Cochi, V. Dietz | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Physical, chemical and immunological stability of CHO-derived hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) particles | Dvorah Diminsky, Marian Gorecki, Neomi Moav, Yechezkel Barenholz | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Storage at -3 degrees C for 24 h alters the immunogenicity of pertussis vaccines | Christina Ann Boros, D. M. Roberton, M. Hanlon, Michael Steven Gold | Journal article | Anglais |
4. Examples of freezing in the cold chain
The following resources provide examples of freezing in the cold chain.
| Titre | Auteur | Année | Type | Langue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of an outside-the-cold-chain vaccine delivery strategy in remote regions of western China | Ren Q, Xiong H, Li Y, Xu R, Zhu C | 2009 | Journal article | Anglais |
| Evidence of Vaccine Freezing in the Cold Chain: Literature Review | PATH | 2003 | Repository | Anglais |
| Frequent exposure to suboptimal temperatures in vaccine cold-chain system in India: results of temperature monitoring in 10 states | Ambujam Nair Kapoor, Balraj Singh, Devegowda Ravishankar, Kalyanranjan Mukhopadhyay, Kamlesh Parmar, Karumanagounder Kolanda Swamy, Manoj V. Murhekar, Pramit Ghosh, Raja Dodum, Rajesh Sisodiya, Ramaratnam Subramanian, Sailaja Bitragunta, Somorjit Ningombam, Srihari Dutta, Tana Takum, Varsha Singh | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Investigating cold-chain system and efficacy of vaccines reaching the end user in Turkey and related regulations | A. Yekta Özer, Hamza Özdemir | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Use of cool water packs to prevent freezing during vaccine transportation at the country level | Birhan Altay, Denis Maire, Peter Bollen, Serge Ganivet, Stephane Guichard, Umit Kartoglu, Venkat Aiyer | Journal article | Anglais | |
| Visual Indicators on Vaccine Boxes as Early Warning Tools to Identify Potential Freeze Damage | Diane Tipping, Jillian Wood, Maria C. Chernock, Ronald Angoff | 2015 | Journal article | Anglais |
5. Additional resources
This section contains additional information and related resources.
Photos left to right: PATH/Simona Zipursky, PATH/Tina Lorenson, PATH/Tina Lorenson.