Cold Chain: A Lynchpin of National Immunization Program

Abstract

Cold chain management (CCM), a lynchpin of National Immunization Program (NIP) is to deliver the vaccines or other immunological products/ vaccines to right people, at right place, and in right time ineffective manner under the controlled conditions to ensure its potency. To comply it, CCM is required with standardized equipment’s and standard procedures to transport the immunological products to ensure the availability of high-quality vaccines and immunization-related materials to all levels of the program. It is vital to ensure accurate implementation of pertinent strategies focusing on vaccine storage; transportation, immunization, safety, management & monitoring. If the CCM is managed properly, the program costs can be reduced markedly without sacrificing the potency of product. Apart from that, high and unwanted vaccine wastage rates are due to poorly managed planning resulting into significant variation in operation program cost, improper management of waste with the negative impact on public health. The review enlightens on how vaccines are stored, transported and monitored to sustain immunological products/vaccines integrity throughout the way of their transportation emphasizing on the various equipment’s and logistic needs to cover the entire cold chain management rigorously till the reach of target population child/mother at the primary healthcare centers(PHCs).