How to Properly Handle and Store Influenza Vaccine

Freshliacne Alert Tag temperature indicator and BlueTag TH20 temperature data logger with high accuracy of ±0.2℃ can be applied to monitor the temperature of influenza vaccine during its shipping and storage to ensure its effectiveness and people’s safety.   

Every year, seasonal flu epidemics emerge, varying in severity each year, presenting a significant burden to healthcare systems. The WHO estimates approximately three to five million severe cases of flu occur each year globally and 290,000-650,000 flu-related respiratory deaths. In the US, it is believed that approximately eight percent of the population experiences flu each year, costing the economy roughly $11 billion per year on average. In order to ensure people’s health and reduce economic losses, influenza vaccination is very necessary. 

Maintaining recommended temperatures and protecting against other environmental exposures during the vaccine storage, transport, handling and administration processes is critical to prevent damage to the vaccine. Use of the appropriate vaccine cold chain management equipment and following CDC recommendations for the safe storage of vaccines, including the flu vaccine, helps ensure that every flu vaccine dose counts. This is key to keeping flu cases as low as possible.

For shipping, the influenza vaccine can be carefully transported in insulated containers with cold/ice packs on the bottom and top of the container. Four layers of heavy wrapping paper must be used between the cold/ice packs and the boxes/vials of the vaccine. The vaccine cannot be touching the ice during shipping. A thermometer should be included in the container and checked when the insulated container is opened upon arrival. Freshliance AlertTag T10 and AlertTag T20 LCD disposable temperature monitors/indicators are specially designed for biological products. It is suitable for influenza vaccine shipping. For temperatures between -30°C and +70°C, there are up to 4 different alarm settings can be programmable. When the surrounding temperature exceeds the preset temperature, the corresponding alarm point 1, 2, 3, or 4 will be displayed on its screen to alert. Alarm types can be divided into cumulative alarm and single alarm. And the alarm is irreversible. You can place them with the influenza vaccine. After trip, you can open the container and check its status.

For storing, the influenza vaccine should be stored in a refrigerator unit at a temperature between 35°and 46°F (2 and 8°C). The vaccine should never be frozen or kept outside of a refrigerator. Besides, you need to equip the refrigerator with its own certified and calibrated thermometer recorder. Check and log the temperature in the refrigerator at least once each day and adjust the control slightly if the bluetooth thermometer indicates that the temperature is close to either of the two extremes (35°and 46°F). No other loggers could be more suitable for influenza vaccine storage temperature monitoring than Freshliance BlueTag TH20 wireless Bluetooth temperature and humidity data logger. This logger can be placed inside the vaccine storage refrigerator. This Bluetooth temperature logger adopts the most advanced low-power Bluetooth technology. After downloading our T-Keeper APP from the Google Store and connecting the Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensor to the APP, you can preset all parameters on your phone, including alarm points, which will assist the staff greatly in finding the abnormal temperature in the refrigerator. Through APP and the Freshliance cloud platform, you can manage different loggers, check the real-time status at any time, and save reports on the cloud in case of loss.