Vaccine Carrier (Cold Chain Support Package)

The vaccine carrier is an insulated container, lined with coolant packs to keep vaccines and diluents cold during transportation and/or short period storage.

This product is suitable for veterinarians and health workers during immunization and extension services. Thus, the coolant packs provide the cooling energy for a limited time period (when the refrigerator is out of order or being defrosted).

Features

• Vaccine carriers are used to collect and transport vaccine supplies from one fixed vaccine store to another, and from vaccine stores to health facilities and the field.
• The cold box arrangement is fairly simple.
• Requires a low level of skill for use and is easier to carry when walking.
• Features options for packing the coolant packs with vaccine vials, in accordance with the instructions provided with the product (drawings inside the cover of the box/carrier).
• The vaccine storage capacity is between 0.9 to 5 liters depending on the size (small, medium, and large capacity boxes).
• They can be carried by a single health worker/veterinarian traveling on foot or by other means, where the combined journey time and immunization activity ranges from a few hours to a whole day.

It is recommended to include a second set of coolant packs for every cold box/vaccine carrier, to cover for interrupted service delivery at all levels.

Choice of Equipment

The most suitable carrier types for a particular purpose are determined by:

• The vaccine storage capacity needed;
• The cold life needed, that is, the longest time that vaccine will be stored in the box;
• The weight and the volume of the box, which depends on the mode of transport, by motor vehicle, bicycle, or hand.
• The number of coolant packs compatible with the cold box to realize its rated cold life.

Using Coolant Packs

Coolant packs (often called ice packs) are flat, square plastic bottles that are filled with water and cooled. They are used to keep vaccines cool inside the vaccine carrier or cold box. The number of coolant packs required for a cold box or vaccine carrier varies according to the type of cold box or vaccine carrier.

Every cold box or vaccine carrier should have at least two sets of coolant packs. Thus one set of the packs could be cooled, while the other set is being used in the cold box or vaccine carrier.

Loading Schedule

1. Place four ice packs vertically on all four side pockets
2. Load vaccines inside
3. Put foam pad on top
4. Fit lit tightly
5. Tighten strap with Velcro.