One example that affected 23,000 patients involved the Ventura County (Calif.) Health Care Agency. In October 2017, county health officials were concerned that their vaccines were getting too warm while in transport to clinics. To mitigate the issue, they began using ice packs while transporting vaccines. However, a routine audit found that the ice packs they were using may have frozen some of the medicines, thus lowering their effectiveness. After the report came out, the agency offered to revaccinate everyone who had received a vaccine.
But Ventura County is not the only case of improper storage leading to potentially compromised vaccines, according to the report.
In the last 13 months, 117 children received potentially compromised vaccines against polio, human papillomavirus and meningococcal disease due to improper refrigeration. Similar issues with temperature fluctuations prompted a clinic in Indianapolis to notify 1,600 patients that they should be revaccinated.
These examples follow a 2015 research report by the CDC that found 23 percent of the vaccination errors reported to the government agency involved the improper storage or use of expired vaccines — both big supply chain issues.
A separate 2012 report by the inspector general at HHS found that about 34 of the 45 healthcare providers sampled exposed vaccines to improper temperatures for at least five cumulative hours.
Since the reports, the CDC has mandated such safeguards as recording the minimum and maximum temperature in vaccine storage unit daily. However, these requirements only apply to the Vaccines for Children’s program, which offers drugs at no cost for kids from low-income families. Medical facilities outside of this program, like pharmacies and private practices, have no comparable federal oversight.
Read the full report here.
More articles on supply chain:
Facebook to help connect hospitals to blood donors
FDA commissioner suggests blockchain technology to improve drug traceability
An injection for a blood clotting disorder, a rival Botox treatment & more: 4 recent FDA approvals
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.