By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
Stakeholders at a global health conference in Abuja have agreed that for vaccines to remain effective in preventing and managing diseases, it must be stored at a specific temperature as temperature fluctuations can reduce or even destroy the potency of vaccines.
The global health conference jointly organised by a Biomedical company and a consulting firm, was an opportunity for stakeholders to brainstorm on the most effective ways of preserving vaccines irrespective of type to retain its potency.
According to Mr. Eghosa Ogedegbe, with the frequent power outages in Nigeria, the best option for effective vaccine storage is using solar direct products such as solar vaccine refrigerators and solar cold storage to meet international standards.
He said it is important for government to ensure its policies on vaccine storage are implemented so that compliance status increases and urged Primary Health Care and Donor agencies to see to the enforcement of the World Health Organization, WHO, recommended standard vaccine storage in Nigeria.
Mr. Ogedegbe, stressed that use of non temperature controlled refrigerators for vaccine storage may lead to some of them becoming frozen thereby making them lose their potency and advised that all types of vaccines as well as those used for children’s immunisation should be stored in a WHO recommended freezers.
Other speakers at the conference including Peter Pederson, Doctors Audu Moshood and Muhammad Usman Adis among others highlighted the need for sustainable medical cold chain solutions in Nigeria.
