The development of a plan for a comprehensive review of the vaccine storage and handling practices in the general practice setting

Barnes, Amy (2015) The development of a plan for a comprehensive review of the vaccine storage and handling practices in the general practice setting. Practicum Report. Memorial University of Newfoundland. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Background: To protect their immunogenicity, vaccines need to be maintained within the stable conditions of a cold chain, as per published vaccine storage and handling recommendations. In Newfoundland, Public Health Nurses are well monitored in their cold chain activities, however no methods are currently in place to assess these activities in general practice. Methods: 1) A literature review was conducted to identify potential concerns and interventions related to the cold chain in general practice; 2) information was obtained from Peel Public Health about their mandated cold chain monitoring procedures; 3) key local staff were consulted to gain feedback and input into the development of processes; 4) a proposal for a comprehensive review of the vaccine storage and handling practices in the general practice setting was developed; and 5) the proposed methods were pilot-tested to assess for usability. Results: The findings from the literature review and consultations guided the development of the proposed review, which involves interviewing clinic staff, observing storage conditions, and providing feedback. The pilot test was successful in identifying some cold chain maintenance concerns in a small sample of general practice clinics and confirmed the feasibility and usability of the proposed methods. Conclusion: The proposed review is ready for implementation as planned for the summer of 2015. If successful, it should aid in identifying specific concerns and guide the development of targeted resources.

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