Learn About Vaccine Cold Chain Management and Its Benefits

1 month ago

Cold chain on Vaccines plays a crucial role in maintaining vaccine quality so that it remains effective until it reaches the recipient. This system ensures that vaccine temperatures are kept stable from production through to field use.

Without proper cold chain management, vaccines can lose their potency and reduce the success of immunization programs. Therefore, let’s take a closer look at cold chain management and its benefits in this article.

Vaccine Cold Chain Management

Cold chain management is an essential step in maintaining vaccine quality from storage to distribution. All processes must be carried out under strict temperature control to ensure vaccines remain safe and effective. The stages include:

1. Vaccine Storage

Each type of vaccine has specific storage temperature requirements that must be understood by healthcare personnel. These requirements are based on storage standards set by the WHO. Vaccines should be stored in front-opening refrigerators that have been modified, with vaccines placed on the middle shelves, as this area has the most stable temperature.

The freezer compartment, bottom shelves, and refrigerator door should not be used to store vaccines. Instead, these areas are filled with cool packs to help maintain a cool and evenly distributed internal temperature. Each vaccine package should be arranged with a spacing of approximately 1–2 cm (about one finger width) to ensure proper air circulation between packages.

Vaccine storage must follow the FEFO (First Expired, First Out) principle, meaning vaccines with the closest expiration dates are used first. In addition, a thermometer should be placed among the vaccine packages to ensure the temperature remains within the 2–8°C range. Temperature monitoring should be conducted twice daily, in the morning and afternoon, and the results recorded on a temperature chart as part of vaccine storage quality control.

2. Vaccine Handling During Distribution

During distribution within the vaccine cold chain, vaccine temperatures must be maintained within the 2–8°C range to prevent quality degradation. Like other pharmaceutical products, vaccines are heat-sensitive.

Therefore, vaccines are typically transported using containers such as vaccine carriers, cool boxes, or styrofoam boxes. Used styrofoam boxes from distributors can be reused for delivery to the next facility, for example from the provincial level to districts/cities, or from districts/cities to veterinary service centers.

The number and size of cooling containers should be adjusted to the volume of vaccines being transported. During delivery, cool packs or coolant liquids (not frozen cold packs or ice blocks) should be placed around the vaccines to maintain a stable temperature. In addition, temperature monitoring devices should be placed among the vaccine packages to ensure temperature stability throughout the journey.

Delivery personnel must also inform recipients of the estimated arrival time so that receiving and storage can be carried out immediately without delaying the cooling process.

Benefits of the Cold Chain System in Protecting Vaccines

The cold chain system plays an essential role in ensuring vaccines remain safe, effective, and high-quality until they reach recipients. The key benefits include:

1. Maintaining Vaccine Quality

Uncontrolled temperature fluctuations can reduce vaccine potency. Through regular temperature monitoring, the stability of biological components in vaccines can be well preserved.

2. Ensuring Recipient Safety

Vaccines damaged by extreme temperatures may lose effectiveness or even pose risks due to changes in critical components. With a cold chain system in place, product temperatures remain within standard ranges, ensuring safe and effective outcomes for vaccine recipients.

3. Preventing Waste and Financial Loss

Exposure to excessive temperatures can render vaccines unusable and require disposal, leading to increased operational costs and resource waste. By using modern temperature monitoring systems such as GPS trackers, temperature stability during distribution can be monitored in real time, preventing vaccine damage and improving cost efficiency.

MGM Bosco: Supporting the Vaccine Cold Chain Through Refrigerated Truck Services

That is why implementing a vaccine cold chain is essential to ensure vaccine quality is maintained throughout the distribution process. Every stage—from storage and transportation using refrigerated fleets to temperature monitoring—plays a vital role in keeping vaccines effective and safe for use.

With the support of refrigerated truck fleets and modern logistics systems, MGM Bosco Logistics is committed to supporting the smooth operation of the vaccine cold chain in Indonesia. Distribution services covering first-mile, middle-mile, and last-mile delivery help ensure vaccines and other pharmaceutical products arrive on time with stable temperatures.

With more than 1,000 refrigerated trucks equipped with GPS trackers and thermo-loggers, in-vehicle temperatures can be monitored in real time by experienced teams 24/7. MGM Bosco Logistics is ready to be your trusted partner in supporting a safe, efficient, and high-standard vaccine cold chain to maintain product quality all the way to the final destination. Contact us now for more information about our services!