[Evaluation of the cold chain during the national antipoliomyelitis vaccination days. Mexico, 1987-1988]. / Evaluación de la cadena de frío en los días nacionales de vacunación antipoliomielítica México, 1987-1988.

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 requirements 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 responsible for the cold chain system considered the storage capacity inadequate. A correlation was found between non-fulfillment of maintenance requirements for cold chain and a decreased in vaccine potency.