2. Inadvertent Administration of Exposed and/or Expired Vaccine

3. Overview Light damage Maintaining Vaccine Potency Expiration Dates
Inadvertently administering expired/exposed vaccine

4. Reasons for the Cold Chain
Vaccines can lose their potency and effectiveness if they are exposed to temperatures outside 2-8˚C
Excessive heat or cold exposure can damage vaccines
The “cold chain” is required to prevent this from happening

5. Protect from Light
Protection from light is a necessary condition for some vaccines
Both ultraviolet (UV) light and fluorescent light cause damage to certain vaccines

6. Protect from Light
The damaging effects of light exposure are cumulative
Remember to limit exposure to light when preparing the vaccines
Refer to product monograph of each vaccine for light exposure restrictions

7. Maintaining Potency of Vaccine
Importance of maintaining vaccine potency:
Administrating a compromised vaccine may result in the occurrence and the possible transmission of a vaccine preventable disease
Vaccine wastage is expensive and may worsen existing supply problems

8. Maintaining Potency of Vaccine
The recommendation for revaccination of people who have received a potentially ineffective vaccine may cause a loss of public confidence or mistrust
Inconvenient for the vaccine recipient and the provider

9. Potency of Vaccine
It can be difficult to assess the potency of a mishandled vaccine
Data is available to indicate that some products remain stable at temps outside of the recommended range for specific periods of time – but it can be difficult to monitor cumulative effects

10. Expiration Dates All vaccines & diluents have expiry dates
Dates are labelled on both the box/container and the product itself
Month/year only – the vaccine or diluent may be used up to and including the last day of that month

11. Expiration Dates
If the day of the month is included (e.g. Sept. 1, 2018) – it can be used up to and including that date (expires at midnight)
Reconstituted vaccines expire within a specific number of hours – labelling the vial is of utmost importance
Multi-dose vials have a specific shelf-life once opened (must be labelled on bottle)

12. If an expired vaccine has been inadvertently administered:
It should NOT be counted as a valid dose
Should be repeated (same day or as soon as it is noticed)
If LIVE vaccine – must wait at least 28 days

13. If an exposed vaccine has been inadvertently administered
When a cold-chain break is identified AFTER an affected vaccine has been given:
Contact the Vaccine Depot and/or the vaccine supplier for further direction

14. If an exposed vaccine has been inadvertently administered
The following will be considered:
type of vaccine
duration and temperature that it was exposed
Serological testing or revaccination may be
suggested

15. Did you know?
Inadvertent administration of exposed and/or expired vaccines is one of the top 3 vaccine reported errors

16. End slide, to be viewed when closing your presentation.