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Storage
Impact
of Power Outage on Vaccine Storage
 August
27, 2003
At
a glance: On
Thursday, August 14, 2003, the Eastern U.S. power grid experienced
an outage that affected a number of states and metropolitan
areas in the northeastern and Midwestern United States.
In most areas, power was restored within a few hours. Manufacturers
have released additional instructions to ensure safety of
vaccines that could have been affected.
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Contents
of this page:
Related
information: Original
announcement about vaccine storage and power outage
| Key
messages about vaccines and power outage |
- Do
not discard compromised vaccine.
- Immunization
providers, in consultation with public health or individual vaccine
manufacturers, may use the information provided here and through
the manufacturers' help lines to determine
which vaccines, if any, in their practices should not be used.
- Immunization
providers who receive vaccine from state or local public health
programs should contact their respective programs to return compromised
vaccine for excise tax credit.
Top
| Updated
general information about vaccine storage
and power outage |
The
following information is based on the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) consultations with vaccine manufacturers and
commercial distributors. Additional updates will be provided on
this page as more information becomes available.
- Power
was affected in 8 states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan,
New Jersey, New York (including New York City), Ohio, Pennsylvania
and Vermont.
- The
extent and duration of the power outages varied across and within
states. Many areas had power restored within a few hours; however,
in others, the power outage lasted for a day or longer.
- As
far as is known, no state depot or commercial vaccine distributor
experienced vaccine loss, though some vaccine was wasted during
shipping. Those losses are being replaced by the shipper or the
contractor.
- No
vaccine shortages resulting from the power outages are anticipated.
- CDC
has gathered information from vaccine manufacturers to assist
state and local health programs in responding to queries from
immunization providers. Providers should contact state or
local health departments or individual vaccine manufacturers to
evaluate their vaccine supply.
Top
| Manufacturers'
information about vaccine storage and power outage |
Manufacturers
have supplied telephone numbers to assist public health authorities
and immunization providers in responding to provider inquiries about
vaccine stored in refrigerators where power was lost. The following
table lists telephone numbers and basic information about vaccine
manufacturers' response to the power outage.
Manufacturer |
Response |
Aventis
|
Aventis
has compiled a message to provide information by vaccine type
for states and providers making decisions regarding the use
of vaccines potentially affected by the outage. For additional
information, providers may call the Aventis Power Outage
Hotline at 1-800-432-2463. |
| GlaxoSmithKline |
GlaxoSmithKline
has provided a "guidance packet” of vaccine-specific
information for state and local public health programs to assist
providers. Providers may call 1-888-825-5249
or their state immunization program for further information
if necessary. |
| Massachusetts
Public Health Biological Laboratories |
Questions
regarding tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed vaccine
for adult use manufactured by the Massachusetts Public
Health Biological Laboratories should be directed to the laboratories
at the following number: 1-617-983-6400. |
| Merck |
Merck
will handle individual provider calls to make decisions regarding
the use of vaccines potentially affected by the outage. Merck’s
National Service Center (NCS) is prepared to respond to calls
from individual providers. Providers may call the NSC at 1-800-NSC-MERCK
(1-800-672-6372) for guidance. |
| Wyeth-Lederle |
Stability
studies indicate that Prevnar that has been
exposed to elevated temperatures due to the power outage for
less than 72 hours may retain potency for up to 6 months from
the date of exposure (or until the expiration date, if that
date occurs sooner than six months). This applies only to vaccine
that was maintained in the refrigerator for the duration of
the power outage and is maintained at the required temperature
once power is restored.
Providers may call 1-800-99-WYETH (1-800-999-9384)
for additional information for making decisions regarding the
use of vaccines that may have been affected by the outage.
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Top
| Summary
of Original Instructions Following Power Outage |
Following
the widespread power outage of Thursday, August 14, 2003, across
states and metropolitan areas in the northeastern and Midwestern
United States, these instructions were issued:
- Do
not open freezers and refrigerators until power is restored.
- Most
refrigerated vaccines are relatively stable at room temperature
for limited periods of time. The vaccines of most concern
are MMR and Varivax, which are sensitive to elevated temperatures.
MMR may retain potency at room temperature, depending on the duration
of exposure. With regard to Varivax, CDC will consult with Merck
Vaccines to determine the best course of action.
- Monitor
temperatures; don’t discard vaccines; don’t administer
affected vaccines until you have discussed use of these vaccines
with public health authorities.
- Additional
recommendations include actions to take during a continued, extended
loss of power and detailed instructions for preserving and maintaining
refrigerated or frozen vaccines when power is restored. Review
the full text of initial instructions,
or for additional information, contact state or local health departments.
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