Power Outage Apr2021 Covid-19 Vaccines, CanSino, Sinopharm Sinovac, Covovax, Covax, Novavax, CanSino, Johnson Janssen, Gamaleya Sputnik V, AstraZenica Oxford, Pfizer, Moderna, Bharat Biotech

E D I T O R ‘ S N O T E
Emergencies typically
happen without warning.
In various situations like
severe weather conditions
and natural disasters that
cause power outages, vaccine
storage conditions may
potentially be compromised.
Power outages create a
significant problem with
vaccine storage, especially
since storage temperatures
are critical and can easily
affect the effectiveness of the
doses. On top of this, the costs
of a power failure can go as
high as thousands of dollars
for any healthcare facility that
stores larger quantities of
vaccines.
In response to such issues,
every clinic should have a
clearly written plan for storing
vaccines and handling
protection if and when a power
outage or emergency occurs.
Since vaccines should never
be kept in a malfunctioning
storage unit for longer periods
of time, making preparations
in advance to retrieve the vials
as quickly as possible during
a potentially compromising
situation can save the
healthcare facility expensive
vaccine loss.
At some point, equipment
will fail because of a power
outage, as well, so at a
minimum, every facility
should have backup TMDs
(Temperature Monitoring
Devices), spare batteries,
flashlight, and vaccine
transport containers and
materials. It is also wise to
4
Power Outages and
Covid-19 Vaccination
have a backup storage unit so that vaccine vials need not be
packed and moved to a separate storage facility if the primary
storage equipment fails.
An on-site generator can also prevent the need to transport
vaccine to an alternative storage facility when a power outage
happens. However, ensure that sufficient fuel is on hand for the
generator to continuously run for at least 72 hours.
In case of generator failure, a backup battery power source can
come in handy. Ensure that this backup battery power source is
tested quarterly and serviced annually.
These precautions are extremely necessary now that the
COVID-19 vaccines are already on their way. To make sure
that power outages don’t interrupt the vaccination programs,
healthcare facilities should keep these reminders in mind.