If you're offering vaccines through the CDC's Vaccines for Children program at your facility, you must not only have a temperature-specific refrigerator for them but also enough storage space to hold all of the vaccines you have available. In fact, VFC guidelines state that, if your practice has had previous storage incidents that resulted in spoiled vaccines, you must buy a new storage unit. There are a lot of options out there, and American Biotech Supply has an extensive list of suitable options that you can trust. Listed below are several points to consider if you're in the market for a vaccine refrigerator.

Vaccine Refrigerator Price

One of the most often-mentioned concerns by those looking to purchase a vaccine refrigerator is how much it's going to cost. Regulatory requirements and increased demands on the healthcare industry have resulted in everyone having to tighten their budgets. At the same time, the safe storage of vaccines is not only one of the regulatory requirements you face, but it is also one way in which healthcare providers are able to provide the highest quality product and the least amount of wasted vaccines. Safe storage involves the right temperature, all the time. We are pleased to offer competitive pricing on all of our models so that you're able to select the size and style of vaccine refrigerator you desire without paying more than you're able.

Features

There are several features to consider when it comes to a high quality vaccine refrigerator, including:

• Adjustable wire shelves so that your vaccines can be placed in the area of the refrigerator that allows for proper airflow and is least likely to suffer temperature fluctuations each time the doors are opened, as well as guard rails that prevent your product from being pushed up against the back wall.

• A microprocessor temperature controller so that you can be ensured that your temperature is accurate and right for the safe storage of vaccines at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit. We also provide a temperature monitoring device to keep you in compliance with CDC guidelines. This digital display device comes with a 3 year calibration certification as well as visual and audible temperature alarms. Vaccines that are stored outside of the required temperatures may suffer a loss of potency resulting in the need for re-vaccination. This can not only harm your standing with the VFC program, but can also harm your reputation with your patients.

• A power cord warning label to alert your staff and customers to the fact that the cord is providing vital electricity to your vaccine storage. Please note that VFC guidelines state that no other appliances should share the same outlet and that the outlet cannot be controlled by a wall switch.

• Convenient under the counter or counter top models to suit the size specifications you need.

• Built-in models that provide a front breathing ventilation system so that you don't need additional space for ventilation on the top and sides of the unit.

• Continual air circulation to avoid increased temperatures when the doors are opened.

• Self-closing doors to prevent someone accidentally leaving the door to the refrigerator open and risking the spoilage of the vaccines inside.

• Probes for testing the temperature of the air inside your refrigerator as well as the temperature of a sample bottle

• Sufficient capacity to store all vaccines and water bottles needed for cooling.

• A unit designated solely for vaccines or featuring a specific area in which only vaccines are stored.

Some acceptable vaccine refrigerator options to consider are:

• Stand-alone units, which are the model recommended by the CDC, varying in size from compact to very large, pharmaceutical-grade models

• Combination units, which feature a side-by-side or over/ under refrigerator and freezer with separate doors

• Under the counter or counter top models, for areas in which space is an issue

Compliance

Our vaccine refrigerators comply with a number of different standards, such as:

• CDC/ VFC guidelines: Note that your state may require an additional temperature monitoring device for compliance, which we provide as an accessory item.

• Energy Star certification: Although Energy Star is a voluntary program, we are pleased to support the need for affordable sustainable options. Our vaccine refrigerators use environmentally friendly hydrocarbon refrigerants. These refrigerants provide zero ozone depletion potential. We are among the industry leaders when it comes to hydrocarbon refrigerants to replace the ozone-depleting and soon to be banned hydroflourocarbon refrigerants of traditional units.

• ADA compliance: The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that your vaccines are accessible to differently-abled staff members by requiring that they're no taller than the height required by the regulation.

Why Can't I Just Use a Household or Dormitory Refrigerator?

VCF guidelines forbid the use of a household or dormitory-style refrigerator for vaccine storage for several reasons, including:

• Inability to accurately control the temperature as is required for vaccines.

• Household refrigerator and freezer combination units generally vent air from the freezer into the refrigerator. This can result in freezing the vaccines in your refrigerator.

• Dormitory-style refrigerators are cooled by an evaporator plate or a cooling coil, and there is a high likelihood of your vaccines being frozen even if only stored temporarily in the dorm refrigerator.

What Happens After the Sale?

Once you've purchased your vaccine refrigeration unit from American Biotech Supply, what happens next? Do you simply plug it in and you're good to go? Is there other information you need to know? What if you have questions?

American Biotech Supply is committed to not only providing superior products, but to providing you with ongoing support for the life of your unit, as well. What this means is that we are eager to share our expertise about our units and how they fit into your regulatory and business needs. We are also ready to answer your questions, trouble-shoot with you, supply information about your warranty, inform you of whether an extended warranty is available for your unit, and do what we can to ensure that you get the best use out of the unit that you purchased. For us, quality and support go hand in hand.