In the United States, staying healthy is extremely imperative. In order to stay immune (or fairly immune) from certain diseases individuals, particularly when they’re young children, must get vaccines. In fact, vaccines are extremely necessary in preventing deaths. To be more specific, vaccines prevent over more than 2.5 million deaths every year. Some vaccines that American people receive are Smallpox, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (or whooping cough), and Polio. Around 93.7% of children from the ages of 19-35 months have gotten the Polio vaccine. Needless to say, vaccines are important, and therefore, must be stored with care. If you work in a laboratory, here are two types of vaccine refrigerators and a medical freezer you should consider utilizing.

Lab Refrigerator

There are certain types of vaccines that need to be refrigerated. Many of the vaccines need to be refrigerated at 40 degrees farenheit ( or 5 degrees Celcius). Additionally, there is a process you must undertake in order for vaccines to be stored carefully and properly. Once they are, they can work effectively and efficiently. Here is the process: store vaccines at the ideal temperature; record daily temperatures at the start of the day; check temperature whenever you access the refrigerator. If the temperature is off, make the necessary changes. In terms of refrigeration, there are two types of laboratory refrigerators you can use to store your vaccines. A manual refrigerator and an auto-defrost refrigerator.

A Manual Refrigerator: A manual refrigerator involves manual defrosting. Defrosting may sound out, when the purpose is to keep vaccines cool. However, there is a reason why defrosting is necessary for refrigerators. Because your vaccines need to be stored at cool temperatures, there are instances when ice and frost can build up on the inside of your refrigerator. This ice and frost can then compromise your vaccines. Once vaccines are compromised they cannot be used, because they will not work properly. In order to decrease the risk of ice and frost build up, you should defrost your refrigerator every two weeks, at least.

The process of defrosting a manual refrigerator consists of dissembling the refrigerator by pulling the cord out. This is a very simple method. Your refrigerator will begin to warm and melt the ice and frost. While it’s melting, store your vaccines in another cooling machine. A manual refrigerator is ideal for your laboratory and your situation if you desire full control over the process and your vaccines.

An Auto-Defrost Refrigerator: Many individuals are pleased with auto-defrost refrigerators for vaccines. This is because ice and frost never builds up on the inside of the refrigerator. Instead, these refrigerators consist of fans inside of their structures. This means that you will not have to remove vaccines for defrosting. If you desire a chance to continue your work, not stop to transfer vaccines, and defrost structures this is the ideal refrigerator for you.

Vaccine Freezer

A medical freezer is required in some laboratories that handle vaccines with varicella. These categories of vaccines are actually required to be frozen. A medical freezer should be set at -58 degrees- 5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to 50 and -15 degrees Celsius. A medical freezer will ensure that all vaccines are stored properly, and they can be used efficiently and effectively. A vaccine freezer should be in your laboratory if you need to freeze vaccines!