From the Guidelines
No, cryotherapy materials should not be stored in the same room as vaccine refrigerators. Vaccines require strict temperature control, typically between 2-8°C (36-46°F), and any cryotherapy equipment (like liquid nitrogen containers) can potentially release cold vapors or create temperature fluctuations that might compromise vaccine stability 1. Cryotherapy materials, especially liquid nitrogen which is stored at extremely low temperatures (-196°C), present a risk of thermal interference with the vaccine refrigerator's temperature regulation system. Additionally, if a cryotherapy container were to leak or spill, it could create a hazardous environment and potentially damage vaccines. Proper vaccine storage requires a dedicated, temperature-controlled environment with continuous monitoring to maintain efficacy, as outlined in guidelines for maintaining and managing the vaccine cold chain 1. Cryotherapy materials should be stored in a separate, well-ventilated area according to their specific storage requirements to ensure both patient safety and vaccine integrity. Some key considerations for vaccine storage include:
- Using refrigerators without freezers and stand-alone freezers that can maintain precise temperatures required for vaccine storage 1
- Storing vaccines centrally in the refrigerator or freezer, not in the door or on the bottom of the storage unit, and sufficiently away from walls to allow air to circulate 1
- Ensuring the storage unit is large enough to hold the year's largest inventory and is dedicated to storage of biologics 1 By storing cryotherapy materials separately from vaccine refrigerators, healthcare providers can minimize the risk of temperature fluctuations and ensure the integrity of vaccines, ultimately prioritizing patient safety and vaccine efficacy.
From the Research
Storage of Cryotherapy and Vaccine Fridge
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that cryotherapy cannot be stored in the same room as a vaccine fridge 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, it is essential to consider the storage requirements for both cryotherapy and vaccines to ensure their stability and potency.
- A study on allowable room temperature excursions for refrigerated medications found that some products can tolerate room temperature excursions for a certain period while maintaining stability and potency 6.
- The storage conditions for cryotherapy and vaccines should be evaluated separately to determine if they can be stored in the same room without compromising their effectiveness or safety.
- Factors such as temperature, humidity, and vibration should be considered when storing cryotherapy and vaccines in the same room 2, 3.