Title |
Assessment of temperatures in the vaccine cold chain in two provinces in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: a cross-sectional pilot study
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Published in |
BMC Research Notes, April 2018
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DOI | 10.1186/s13104-018-3362-1 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Tomomi Kitamura, Viraneth Bouakhasith, Kongxay Phounphenghack, Chansay Pathammavong, Anonh Xeuatvongsa, Masataro Norizuki, Hironori Okabayashi, Yoshio Mori, Munehito Machida, Masahiko Hachiya |
Abstract |
All childhood vaccines, except the oral polio vaccine, should be kept at 2-8 °C, since the vaccine potency can be damaged by heat or freezing temperature. A temperature monitoring study conducted in 2008-2009 reported challenges in cold chain management from the provincial level downwards. The present cross-sectional pilot study aimed to assess the current status of the cold chain in two provinces (Saravan and Xayabouly) of Lao People's Democratic Republic between March-April 2016. Two types of temperature data loggers recorded the temperatures and the proportions of time exposed to < 0 or > 8 °C were calculated. The temperature remained within the appropriate range in the central and provincial storages. However, the vaccines were frequently exposed to > 8 °C in Saravan and < 0 °C in Xayabouly in the district storage. Vaccines were exposed to > 8 °C during the transportation in Saravan and to both > 8 and < 0 °C in Xayabouly. Thus, challenges in managing the cold chain in the district storage and during transportation remain, despite improvements at the provincial storage. A detailed up-to-date nationwide analysis of the current situation of the cold chain is warranted to identify the most appropriate intervention to tackle the remaining challenges. |
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Members of the public | 2 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
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Demographic breakdown
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Student > Master | 13 | 25% |
Researcher | 7 | 14% |
Student > Bachelor | 4 | 8% |
Other | 2 | 4% |
Lecturer | 2 | 4% |
Other | 3 | 6% |
Unknown | 20 | 39% |
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Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 12% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 5 | 10% |
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Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 2 | 4% |
Other | 5 | 10% |
Unknown | 23 | 45% |