Standard Operating Procedure: Using Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM)

The VVM is a critical tool for ensuring vaccine potency and safety. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all pre-qualified vaccines must be supplied with the appropriate VVM applied to the vaccine vial or ampoule. The VVM is a circle with a small square inside it, containing a heat-sensitive dye. The combined effects of time and temperature cause the inner square to darken gradually and irreversibly. The lower the temperature, the more slowly the inner square changes color, while the higher the temperature, the faster it changes color. The VVM does not directly measure vaccine potency but provides information about the main factor that affects potency: heat exposure over a period of time. However, it does not register information about freezing, which can also damage liquid vaccines. There are only two VVM stages: the usable stage, where the square is lighter than the circle, and the unusable stage, where the square matches or is darker than the circle. To ensure vaccine safety and potency, the VVM status should be checked at various points in the vaccine supply chain. At the central vaccine store, storekeepers and immunization officers should check the VVM status and complete the Vaccine Arrival Report. When vaccines are issued by a store, storekeepers should check the VVM status and expiry dates for each type and batch of vaccine during the preparation of the issue voucher. Health workers at health facilities should immediately check the VVM status and expiry date before opening the vial. If the VVM status is unusable or the expiry date has passed, the vaccine should not be used and should be disposed of safely. The VVM is an essential tool for ensuring vaccine safety and potency, and its proper use is critical for preventing vaccine wastage and ensuring the effectiveness of vaccination programs. The VVM is distributed to various levels of the vaccine supply chain, including central vaccine stores, regional vaccine stores, district vaccine stores, and health facilities. The VVM poster is an essential resource for understanding the VVM and its proper use. The VVM is an important tool for ensuring vaccine safety and potency, and its proper use is critical for preventing vaccine wastage and ensuring the effectiveness of vaccination programs. The VVM is used to track cumulative heat exposure over time, and its proper use is critical for ensuring vaccine safety and potency. The VVM is an essential tool for preventing vaccine wastage and ensuring the effectiveness of vaccination programs. The VVM is used at various points in the vaccine supply chain, including when vaccines are received at the central vaccine store, when vaccines are issued by a store, when vaccines are received by a lower-level store, and when vaccines are administered. The VVM is a critical tool for ensuring vaccine safety and potency, and its proper use is essential for preventing vaccine wastage and ensuring the effectiveness of vaccination programs. The VVM is used to track cumulative heat exposure over time, and its proper use is critical for ensuring vaccine safety and potency. The VVM is an essential tool for preventing vaccine wastage and ensuring the effectiveness of vaccination programs.