Vaccine storage conditions in clinics in Colombo.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To study the practices of health personnel regarding vaccine storage and the integrity of the cold chain, during storage, in immunisation clinics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive survey based on a postal questionnaire and an observational study of the cold chain during storage of a randomly selected sample. SETTING: Colombo District. PARTICIPANTS: 10 health centres, 13 Colombo Municipal Council Clinics, 26 general practices receiving vaccines from health centres, 13 private hospitals and 10 state-run hospitals. METHOD: A pretested postal questionnaire collected information on storage conditions and compliance with EPI requirements. The sub-sample in which the temperatures were monitored consisted of 33% of the total. The study was carried out in 1995-1996, when there was an uninterrupted power supply. OUTCOME MEASURES: Responses to the postal questionnaires and the colour changes recorded in thermosensitive WHO cold chain monitors. RESULTS: The response rate to the postal questionnaire was 87.5%. All 63 respondents stored vaccines in refrigerators worked by electricity. Information regarding refrigerators showed 46% to be less than 5 years old and 17% were more than 15 years old. 97% of refrigerators had good door seals. Regular defrosting was claimed by 79% of clinics and 81% had a named person responsible for vaccine storage. Only 57% had thermometers available and temperatures were monitored daily in only 40% of clinics. 76% of refrigerators were used for purposes other than storage of vaccines. Colour changes were noted in 2 out of 22 cold chain monitors.