Introduction

Immunization against vaccine preventable diseases remains the most cost effective public health strategy for child survival India¹. The vaccine used are BCG, Bivalent OPV ,IPV,  Pentavalent and Measles (with Rotavirus, PCV, HPV, JE and MR being new addition to the immunization services provision basket Cold chain system remains the backbone of immunization programme to maintain the potency of the vaccine. Breakdown of cold chain would lead to loss of potency of vaccine and may result in adverse events following immunization ³. These events could hamper immunization programs and failure to achieve the full immunization target of 90% for government of India⁴.

In India, UIP vaccines are procured by Government of India and supplied from manufacturer to Government Medical Store Depot (four stores across India). Here vaccines are stored for about 3 months and then transported to state vaccine stores. From the state vaccine stores they are transported to the divisional and district vaccine stores. The last cold chain point is the vaccine store in the primary health centers, community health centers and cold chain points in municipalities/corporations from where the vaccines are distributed to session sites. 

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Pinaki Sensarma

MBBS DMCW MBA MPH,

Associate Professor,

Department of Environment and Public Health,

NSHM Institute of Health Sciences,

NSHM Knowledge Campus, Kolkata