Weaknesses of vaccine storage in Primary Healthcare Centers.

Valéria Conceição de Oliveira,Ione Carvalho Pinto,Ricardo Bezerra Cavalcante,Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio,Maria Del Pilar Serrano Gallardo

doi:10.1590/0034-7167.2015680215i

Abstract

assessment through qualitative approach of vaccine storage in Primary Healthcare Centers. assessment study of qualitative approach in which 30 interviews were conducted with nurses, nursing technicians or assistants and technical reference in immunization, in 12 vaccine rooms that had 100% of the structural criteria evaluated. Recorded testimonials of the subjects were organized and analyzed using thematic Content Analysis. the assessment pointed to absence of knowledge on the parts of nurses and nursing technicians and assistants with respect to the effects of low temperature on vaccines. Barriers were also encountered in relation to the supervision of nurses in the vaccine room activities and in relation to the knowledge needed by workers to care for preservation of vaccines. vaccine storage is inadequate and may compromise the quality of the immunobiologicals dispensed to the populace.

Highlights

The National Immunization Program (NIP) has significantly reduced the incidence of various infectious diseases
Arose the need for training the professionals who operationalize the vaccine storage in Primary Healthcare Centers (UAPS – Unidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde), since the theoretical information provided by the vaccinators was not always in complete agreement with the practice observed[2]
The study has limitations because it was performed only in rooms that met 100% of the structural criteria, not allowing the identification of problems in vaccine rooms that did not meet the criteria defined in the study and had different obstacles

Summary

Introduction

The National Immunization Program (NIP) has significantly reduced the incidence of various infectious diseases. Considering the importance of the vaccine preservation process, studies have been carried out to monitor and evaluate it, at the municipal level. One of such studies was on the experience and update of the nursing team on knowledge of immunization. From this analysis, arose the need for training the professionals who operationalize the vaccine storage in Primary Healthcare Centers (UAPS – Unidades de Atenção Primária à Saúde), since the theoretical information provided by the vaccinators was not always in complete agreement with the practice observed[2]. The most frequent failure was the malfunction of refrigerators and thermometers[3]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion