OPEN

Vial Policy

Dr. Animesh Das

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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.

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:

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 discardpoint.

Open vials of Measles and BCG must be discarded after the end of each

immunization session not be kept for more than 6 hours .

The freeze-dried formulation contains no preservative, and after being

reconstituted with a diluent, must be discarded at the end of the session orwithin 6 hours, whichever comes first

(the same as for BCG, measles, andyellow fever).

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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