BANGALORE: Health and Family Welfare Department officials have found that vaccines for children are not being stored in prescribed conditions at two city hospitals and a few nursing homes, thereby compromising the drugs’ effectiveness.
As per World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, all child vaccines, barring the Oral Polio vaccine, must be stored at temperatures between 2 and 8°C. But the vaccines stored at the hospitals were frequently subjected to high temperatures, and occasionally to sub-optimal temperatures, the officials said. The vaccines were also found stored along with other drugs, which could lead to contamination.
“WHO regulations on proper storage of vaccines were not being followed at two reputed hospitals. They are also not following the prescribed immunisation schedule,” an official said.
Express chose to not name these hospitals as they were unavailable for comment.
What the Team Found
The WHO, in the December 2013 issue of Bulletin, had published that vaccines were frequently exposed to high or suboptimal temperatures in cold chain systems across 10 Indian states, including Karnataka. This is exactly what the team found.
The WHO study was led by Manoj Murhekar from the National Institute of Epidemiology in Chennai and had the participation of the Health Department.
The team also found Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM) were absent in these hospitals. A VVM is a temperature-sensitive label which checks the temperatures the vial is subjected to over a period.
Dr Geetha Nyamagouder, Director of the Health Department, said private hospitals do not store vaccines as per the guidelines of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007. “We have issued a circular to private hospitals on this matter. They are answerable to the department. We will send out an inspection team and issue another circular, if required,” she said.
FALLING SHORT OF MEASURES
Why vaccines are being exposed to suboptimal temperatures in hospitals
Use of domestic refrigerators instead of Ice Lined Refrigerators.
Incorrectly set thermostats.
Uncalibrated devices to monitor temperature.
No review of temperatures in vaccine stores.
Absence of a fixed schedule for defrosting.
Power cuts.
Less trained personnel
No measures to keep vaccines at optimal temperatures during transit.