Open Vial Poilicy

Open Vial Poilicy

1. OPEN Vial Policy Dr. Animesh Das For More Health Information Log On www.vdcure.com

2. To make sure that vaccines remain effective with as little wastage as possible, a policy of managing opened vials is needed. Opened vials can be used to withdraw a number of doses if they are stored correctly.

3. Multi-dose vials of OPV, DTP, TT, DT, hepatitis B, and liquid formulations of Hib vaccines from which one or more doses of vaccine have been removed during an immunization session may be used in subsequent immunization sessions for up to a maximum of 4 weeks3 , provided that all of the following conditions are met:

4. The expiry date has not passed; • The vaccines are stored under appropriate cold chain conditions; • The vaccine vial septum has not been submerged in water4 • Aseptic technique has been used to withdraw all doses; • The vaccine vial monitor (VVM), if attached, has not reached the discard point.

5. Open vials of Measles and BCG must be discarded after the end of each immunization session not be kept for more than 6 hours .

6. The freeze-dried formulation contains no preservative, and after being reconstituted with a diluent , must be discarded at the end of the session or within 6 hours, whichever comes first (the same as for BCG, measles, and yellow fever).

7. All opened vials must be discarded immediately if the asceptic procedures have not been followed or there is any suspicion that the vial is contaminated

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