Improving Temperature Monitoring at the Last Mile in Pharmacies in Magnisia and Sporades Regional Units in Greece

Abstract

To ensure the optimal potency of time and temperature sensitive pharmaceutical products (TTSPPs), careful attention is needed in handling practices at the country level. These include storage and transport of TTSPPs from the manufacturers through wholesalers down to the end-users at the service centres (pharmacies and health centres). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all vaccines should be stored at between +2oC and +8oC at all immunization points in the periphery (health centres, health houses, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies). Liquid formulations of vaccines with aluminium adjuvant containing diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, IPV and their combinations should not be frozen [1-3]. TTSPPs also require cold storage, similar to vaccines, they are stored refrigerated at +2oC and +8oC unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer.