PHARMACEUTICAL Defence Limited (PDL) has reminded NSW members that local Public Health Units may carry out random vaccine storage and cold chain audits on immunisation providers, including pharmacies.
The audits, carried out on behalf of NSW Health, are to ensure compliance with the 'National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: Strive for 5' and the NSW Health cold chain mandatory requirements.
Compliance with state and national requirements is required to access government-funded National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines, and failure to comply may result in the pharmacy losing access to NIP vaccines and can lead to a regulatory notification.
"All immunisation providers involved with ordering, receiving, storing and administering government-funded vaccines must understand and adhere to the principles of vaccine storage and cold chain management," PDL reminded members.
Mandatory cold chain requirements include maintaining a temperature range of 2C to 8C in a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator, regular servicing of the fridge, temperature data logging that is regularly monitored and staff training for vaccine storage and cold chainmanagement.
Proprietors should report any areas of non-compliance found in an audit to their business insurer.
NSW pharmacists are invited to a webinar on this - see more HERE.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 27 Feb 25
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