COVID-19 vaccines are on their way. Are healthcare facilities ready? Amid the conversations about educating the general public about the benefits and side effects of vaccines and understanding distribution and availability of vaccines, healthcare facility managers also must assess the readiness of their facilities, systems and technicians to ensure proper storage and handling crucial to an effective vaccine cold chain, according to Health Facilities Management.

Key to the success of a robust cold chain is staff training, storage and handling standard operating procedures (SOPs). Recommendations and best practices for staff training and creating robust storage and handling SOPs can be found in the CDC Vaccine Storage and Distribution Tool Kit.

One key issue for managers is knowing the exact storage requirements for the vaccine being received. Hospitals and health systems will need to provide the appropriate freezers and refrigerators to accommodate the storage and administration of the specific vaccines they receive. Whichever system your team selects, there are several considerations that must be taken:

• Perform a multidisciplinary risk assessment.

• Evaluate the space and utilities needed.

• Evaluate life cycle costs.

• Develop or review safety procedures.

• Ensure mechanics and staff are trained on proper use and handling.

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