Installing and looking after vaccine refrigerators and freezers

Refrigerators and freezers are used for vaccine storage at regional and district levels, while health facilities store vaccines in refrigerators only. The equipment must be installed correctly to maintain the correct vaccine storage temperature. Temperature zones are a critical consideration before installation. The equipment must be correctly rated for the maximum and minimum ambient room temperatures at the installation site. For refrigerators, the minimum safe ambient operating temperature is also tested, as this temperature varies from product to product. If the ambient room temperature is too high or too low, the equipment will not maintain the correct vaccine storage temperature. Immunization and Vaccine Officers and Storekeepers must know how to operate the refrigerator and temperature-monitoring device, recognize common faults, and understand the principles of planned preventive maintenance and routine equipment replacement. They must also be trained in the installation and maintenance of vaccine refrigerators and freezers. Regional Cold Chain Technicians, Regional Immunization Officers, and District Immunization and Vaccine Officers are responsible for installation, while Regional Immunization and Vaccine Officers, Regional Immunization Store Keepers, District Immunization and Vaccine Officer, District Vaccine Storekeepers, and Health Worker at Facility are responsible for looking after vaccine refrigerators and freezers. The procedure for installing and looking after vaccine refrigerators and freezers involves several steps. The equipment must be unpacked carefully and checked for damage. The manufacturer's installation and operating instructions must be read and followed exactly. The equipment must be installed in a location with a suitable temperature zone, and the temperature must be recorded twice per day. The refrigerator and freezer temperature should be between +2°C to +8°C for all antigens, while freezers are used for storing bOPV Vaccine at a temperature between -15°C to -25°C at regional and district levels. Routine non-mechanical maintenance, simple troubleshooting, and initial emergency responses are the responsibility of Regional Immunization Officer, Regional Cold Chain Technicians, Regional Vaccine Store keeper, District Immunization and Vaccine Officer, District Vaccine Storekeepers, and Health facility Immunization services In-charge. Mechanical inspections, routine servicing, and emergency repairs are the responsibility of Regional Immunization and Vaccine Officer and Regional Cold Chain Technicians. The equipment requires regular maintenance to ensure that it operates correctly and maintains the correct vaccine storage temperature. The maintenance procedure involves daily, monthly, and annual tasks, as well as specific maintenance for gas refrigerators and freezers and solar refrigerators and freezers. Emergency maintenance is also required in the event of a mechanical failure, which must be rectified within a maximum target period by a trained maintenance technician. A sufficient stock of spare parts must be maintained to ensure that these targets can be met.