As outlined by Public Health Ontario, Temperature-monitoring devices are essential requirements for monitoring vaccines. By understanding and implementing proper vaccine storage and handling practices, you can play a critical role by ensuring that administered vaccines retain their potency and that vaccine wastage is reduced. Read more here. Minimum/Maximum temperature monitoring thermometers can play a vital role in cold chain incident inspections, as their data can help support the safety and potency of a vaccine.
Vaccine Storage and Handling Practice Requirements
Pharmacists that store vaccines are responsible for the following:
- Current, maximum and minimum temperatures must be checked and documented twice daily (beginning and end of each day) – these should be recorded in the Temperature Log Book
- The Temperature Log Book must document: the date, time checked (AM and PM required), Current temp., Max. Temp., Min. Temp., and who it was checked by
- Any temperature readings below +2 degrees Celsius, or above 8 degrees Celsius must be reported to your public health unit immediately.
Digital Maximum-Minimum Thermometer Requirements:
- Must provide 3 readings: current temperature, maximum temperature reached since last reset, minimum temperature reached since last reset
- Display screen
- Record temperatures in increments of 0.1 degrees celcius
- Must be calibrated within 1/- 1 degree celcius – should be calibrated annually
- Batteries should be checked/replaced every 6 months
In order to meet the current Ontario standards, the thermometer must show at least 1 decimal point in the temperature reading (referred to as the resolution); for example:
Digital Maximum-Minimum Thermometers
PharmaSystems offers a large variety of minimum/maximum digital thermometers. Contact us for help selecting the thermometer that best suits your needs, or view our entire selection here.