RE: How to save your vaccines during a power failure

[Guest guest]

To clarify, while it is true that Varivax (and presumably Zostavax too) can be kept at refrigerator temperature for up to 3 days and still be viable, it cannot be re-frozen. After 3 days at refrigerator temp, it is either use it or lose it. So that gives you 3 days to find someone who needs the varicella vaccine.Here's a reference: http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_var.asp#storage SetoSouth Pasadena, CAnot even the varicella was lost , I called and according to merck it can sit at refrigerator temperatures for up to 3 days without harm....hah!

[Guest guest]

Marty not sure about the zostavax though it makes sense it might be OK at those temperatures since it is purportedly the same vaccine, just more of it. but if it happens, best to call the merck line directly- they have specific stability data times and temperatures which they look up and tell you if you are OK for those temps and timeLynn

Good to know about Varivax, and I assume the same holds true for Zostavax. A rep for Crucell told me that Vivitic Berna (oral typhoid fever vaccine) can be at room temperature for up to 24 hours (it's supposed to be refrigerated).

Marty

not even the varicella was lost , I called and according to merck it can sit at refrigerator temperatures for up to 3 days without harm....hah!di

[Guest guest]

Lynn, good thing you thawed about it before throwing out your vaccines...

Marty

Sent from my Motorola Droid 2

> > yes> well it hadn't thawed it was just at 15F for about an hour

> climbing up slowly from -3F over 5 hours> but she said refrigerator temps for up to 3 days were OK to refreeze and use normally> I did not ask her specifically what temperature since I wasn't that high but I bet she has a graph of temperature and time and she plots the temperature on that graph and all under the line is OK above not OK

> she said refreeze was fine as long as this lot did not get out of recommended temps again could use to usual expiry date> if out of temperature again she said to chuck it out.> I do really recommend calling the vaccine manufacturer on their product information line and giving the specific scenario, they are very helpful (not like calling United)

> again I had to call as per the state vaccine people to docuent a " vaccine adverse storage issue " and fax them the paperwork.> lucky I did I may have just thrown it out> > > > To:

> Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:08:38 -0700> Subject: Re: How to save your vaccines during a power failure> >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > So Lynn, did Merck tell you that you could re-freeze the Varivax after it had thawed?> > Sharon> > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Marty > not sure about the zostavax though it makes sense it might be OK at those temperatures since it is purportedly the same vaccine, just more of it.

> but if it happens, best to call the merck line directly- they have specific stability data times and temperatures which they look up and tell you if you are OK for those temps and time> > Lynn>

> > > > > > > > Good to know about Varivax, and I assume the same holds true for Zostavax. A rep for Crucell told me that Vivitic Berna (oral typhoid fever vaccine) can be at room temperature for up to 24 hours (it's supposed to be refrigerated).

> > > > > > > Marty> > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > not even the varicella was lost , I called and according to merck it can sit at refrigerator temperatures for up to 3 days without harm....hah!

> > > > di> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

ouch

 

Lynn, good thing you thawed about it before throwing out your vaccines...

Marty

Sent from my Motorola Droid 2

> > yes> well it hadn't thawed it was just at 15F for about an hour

> climbing up slowly from -3F over 5 hours> but she said refrigerator temps for up to 3 days were OK to refreeze and use normally> I did not ask her specifically what temperature since I wasn't that high but I bet she has a graph of temperature and time and she plots the temperature on that graph and all under the line is OK above not OK

> she said refreeze was fine as long as this lot did not get out of recommended temps again could use to usual expiry date> if out of temperature again she said to chuck it out.> I do really recommend calling the vaccine manufacturer on their product information line and giving the specific scenario, they are very helpful (not like calling United)

> again I had to call as per the state vaccine people to docuent a " vaccine adverse storage issue " and fax them the paperwork.> lucky I did I may have just thrown it out> > >

> To:

> Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:08:38 -0700> Subject: Re: How to save your vaccines during a power failure

> >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > So Lynn, did Merck tell you that you could re-freeze the Varivax after it had thawed?> > Sharon> > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Marty > not sure about the zostavax though it makes sense it might be OK at those temperatures since it is purportedly the same vaccine, just more of it.

> but if it happens, best to call the merck line directly- they have specific stability data times and temperatures which they look up and tell you if you are OK for those temps and time> > Lynn>

> > > > > > > > Good to know about Varivax, and I assume the same holds true for Zostavax. A rep for Crucell told me that Vivitic Berna (oral typhoid fever vaccine) can be at room temperature for up to 24 hours (it's supposed to be refrigerated).

> > > > > > > Marty> > >

> >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > not even the varicella was lost , I called and according to merck it can sit at refrigerator temperatures for up to 3 days without harm....hah!

> > > > di> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

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