|
Starting Jan. 1, federal guidelines will require certified calibrated thermometers in all refrigerators and freezers used to store vaccines in the Texas Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.
The guidelines require eliminating "dorm-style" refrigerators as permanent storage units for VFC vaccine by Dec. 31, 2009. "Dorm-style" refrigerators are small combination refrigerator/freezers outfitted with one external door, an evaporator plate usually located inside an ice-maker compartment within the refrigerator, and no temperature alarm device, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Such refrigerators pose a high risk of freezing the vaccine, CDC says. However, it adds that these refrigerators can still be used for temporary storage in limited situations.
"It is the provider's responsibility to comply with future needs and/or recalibration of thermometers in order to adhere to the federal guidelines," the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a letter to local and regional health officials [PDF].
Action, Aug. 18, 2008
Last Published: 8/18/2008 Print this page
|