The key role of vaccine vial monitors in routine and mass immunisation.

The vaccine vial monitor is an excellent monitoring device to assure that only non-heat damaged vaccine is administered to women and children. They help to extend access to immunisation, they increase the efficiency and reduce wastage in the cold-chain and, when visible on all vaccine vials of all types, they will help to streamline distribution systems for immunisation services of the 21st century in all developing countries.

Potency of oral polio vaccine stored at distribution centers in Madras.

This study was done with the objective to measure, monitor, and document the potency of oral polio vaccine and the storage conditions in the city of Madras for a period of one year from May 88. The Corporation of Madras which takes care of indenting and supplying the vaccine has 87 centers for storage and distribution. We took 12 samples a month from these centers by stratified random sampling technique adopting proportionate sampling. The samples were coded and sent to the laboratory. The investigator noted the storage conditions in a specially designed data card. Results were notified to the managers concerned. 122 samples were tested out of which 28 (23%) showed loss of potency (less than log 10(5.84]. The loss of potency is statistically significant in centers not having dial thermometer and where inappropriate carrier was used for transport of vaccine. It was least in Maternity and Child Health Centers probably due to the orientation of the personnel. The frequency of loss of potency was more in the beginning of the study and decreased as the study progressed. Monitoring of storage conditions and potency of vaccine along with periodic training and reorientation of health personnel are stressed.

Evaluación de la cadena de frío en los días nacionales de vacunación antipoliomielítica México, 1987-1988 / Evaluation of the cold chain during the national vaccination days aginst polimyelites México 1987-1988

Se realizó un estudio en 32 entidades del país, cuyo objetivo fue la evaluación de la cadena de frío de la Secretaría de Salud de México, durante los "Días Nacionales de Vacunación Atipolimielítica" de 1987 y 1988. Se evaluó el cumplimiento de normas y la potencia de la vacuna en los diferentes niveles administrativos, para lo cual se llenaron formularios y se obtuvieron frascos de biológico cerrados en cada uno de estos niveles. Se encontró que sólo el 56 por ciento de las unidades muestreadas almacenaban exclusivamente biológico, más de 10 por ciento de los refrigeradores estaban en mal estado y el 44 por ciento de los responsables de la red frío consideraron insuficiente su capacidad de almacenamiento. Al comparar el cumplimiento de normas con la potencia de la vacuna se encontró correlación entre el grado de incumplimiento de normas y la caída de la potencia del biológico

An evaluation of the cold chain used during the "National Vaccination Days Against Poliomyelitis" in January and March of 1987 and 1988 was performed in 32 states of Mexico, both the potency of the trivalent Sabin vaccine and completion of requeriments for the maintenance of the cold chain were evaluated at each level in the Ministry of Health's structure. Only 56 percent of the refrigeration units exclusively stored vaccines, more than 10 percent of refrigerators were broken, and 44 percent of the persons responsibles for the cold chain system considered the storage capacity inadequate. A correlation was found between nonfulfilment of maintenance requeriments for cold chain and a decreased in vaccine potency.