Vaccines should always stay within a specific temperature range. Exposure to low or high temperatures can damage vaccines - and if that happens, a country may not have the vaccine supply it needs to immunize children. That’s why staff who handle and transport vaccines must know how to protect vaccines against unacceptable temperature excursions. This includes choosing and packing the appropriate coolant-packs and passive containers for specific transport routes. In this course, you will practice identifying where vaccines may be at risk, choosing the right coolant packs and passive containers for a variety of vaccine shipments, and finally, packing a passive container.

Learning objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify where vaccines are at risk during transport
  • Choose the right type of coolant pack each vaccine shipment
  • Choose the right passive container for each vaccine shipment
  • Pack a passive container.

Audience

Anyone responsible for the transporting of vaccines at the national, sub-national, and health facility level, including immunization program managers, logisticians, and store managers.

Length

40 minutes

Methodology

The learner is placed in the role of an Immunization Supply Chain Manager, determining how to transport vaccines more safely through a series of decision-making scenarios.

Structure

This course includes one module organized in the following main sections:

  • Section 1: Identify risks during transport
  • Section 2: Choose the right coolant packs – 3 interactivities
  • Section 3: Choose the right passive container – 5 interactivities
  • Section 4: Pack the container
  • Resources


Contact details

This course was developed jointly by UNICEF and WHO.

For more details, please visit the WHO course page.

For questions or feedback on this programme, please contact Anahitta Shirzad at ashirzad@unicef.org