Today, most vaccines are licensed for storage between 2-8°C, regardless of their true stability. While there are some vaccines that do need to be kept at this specific temperature range, studies have shown that most vaccines are able to withstand higher temperature ranges for a specific period of time and that keeping them at 2-8°C puts some of them at risk of freeze damage. This isn't to say that vaccines should not still be stored at 2-8°C, but that if the vaccine is in fact stable enough to allow, for example, storage at 25°C for 30 days, that the product's license should reflect this so that countries have the option to use it as such if they wish.
Looking at alternative temperature storage for vaccines has many advantages, chief amongst them:
• Taking full advantage of the real stability of vaccines to improve coverage by reaching out to remote populations beyond the reach of the current cold chain
• Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of immunization services to new target groups and in campaign/pandemic situations
• Protecting freeze-sensitive vaccines
• Facilitating the integration of the immunization supply chain with those of other health care products
There are many regulatory and programmatic challenges that will need to be addressed before storing certain vaccines outside of the 2-8oCdegrees becomes a feasible practice, however one of the first issues to tackle is what we call this new storage/transport arrangement. While many options have been proposed, we'd like to get input and opinions from as many people as possible before choosing an official term.
Some suggestions thus far have included:
Out of the cold chainFlexible cold chainControlled ambient temperature storageHigher temperature storage[/ol] Please help us find the best term possible!
Michel Zaffran
Senior Adviser & Project Optimize Director
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