Assessment of Vaccine storage Practices in 2 districts of Eastern India -Using Global Assessment tool.

Abstract

Background: Introduction of  EPI was to accelerate disease control efforts and outcomes.EPIs are typically governed by Ministries of Health in cooperation with the WHO , UNICEF to provide technical assistance in planning, social mobilization , reach vaccine-specific target immunization coverage rates and reduce  incidence  of VPDs. The WHO  recommendation  on immunization schedules is  to ensure  proper administration of vaccines to each age-specific target group.   Effective program should reach  target population at  right time,  right place and  right condition before patients are exposed to infectious diseases. The first VMAT assessment of India was undertaken by Odisha in December 2007.Objectives: 1.To gather information on vaccine storage temperature and wet and dry storage capacity in the facility. 2.To assess the vaccine storage practices.3.To suggest recommendations. Methods: Place of the study: DVS and CCPs  in Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur ,Type of study: cross-sectional, Study design: By simple random sampling 7 CCPs in Cuttack  district and  3 CCPs in Jagatsinghpur district were selected and  2 DVSs were  included, Period of Study:Nov 2018 to Oct 2019, Study instrument: Global assessment tool designed by WHO, Ethical consideration: Obtained from  IEC of S.C.B Medical College Results: The vaccines were arranged properly from bottom upwards as recommended by WHO and the vaccines stored were within expiry period and having usable stage VVM. No reconstituted BCG, Measles or JE vaccines were found in any equipment in both the districts.Conclusion:In all the CCPs in this study the vaccines were arranged properly from bottom towards upwards as recommended by WHO. No reconstituted BCG, Measles or JE vaccines were found in any equipment in both the districts. Opened vials were stored in 87.5 % and 75% of facilities in both districts  separately.