{"id":5523,"date":"2018-09-13T14:03:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T18:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vaccines.phila.gov\/?p=5523"},"modified":"2024-09-11T16:09:49","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T20:09:49","slug":"how-to-defrost-your-storage-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vaccines.phila.gov\/index.php\/how-to-defrost-your-storage-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"How to defrost your storage unit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Storage units, especially freezers, can sometimes build up too much ice. When you need to defrost your VFC\/VFAAR storage unit, TempCheck – our storage and handling coordinators – can help. TempCheck will help you safely storage the vaccine while you defrost the unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use this guide to plan your defrost. Review it when you plan a defrost, and consult it during the defrost process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any questions, or if your vaccine is exposed to out-of-range temperatures during the defrost or transport process, contact TempCheck as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TempCheck<\/strong>
Adam Howsare and Alexis Bridges
TempCheck@phila.gov<\/a>
215-685-6777<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan and prepare<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Contact TempCheck<\/strong> to tell them that you are planning to defrost your unit. TempCheck will need to know when you plan to defrost, and where your back-up unit is. TempCheck will send you a backup DDL to monitor the back-up unit. Keep the packing material so you can send the DDL back to PDPH.<\/li>
  2. Prepare the back-up DDL.<\/strong>\u00c3\u0082 Once you get the back-up DDL, temper the probe by putting it in your primary freezer. After 30 minutes, start up the DDL. Monitor temperatures for at least 1 hour. Alternatively, place the probe in your unit overnight and start the DDL the next morning.<\/li>
  3. Move the vaccine.<\/strong> It’s time to move the vaccine. Leave the primary DDL in your primary unit while you defrost the primary unit.
    1. If your back-up unit is on-site<\/em>: Move the vaccine and back-up DDL to your secondary unit. Note the time.<\/li>
    2. If your backup unit is off-site<\/em>: using the emergency transport guide, set up a hard-sided cooler for transport. Move the back-up DDL to the cooler. Place the probe in the middle. Move the vaccine into the cooler. Note the time. Transport the vaccine directly to the back-up location. Note the time the vaccine and DDL are moved into the back-up unit.<\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Defrosting your unit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Note the time when you start defrosting your primary unit. The DDL will warm up, which will probably trigger an alarm.<\/li>
      2. Allow the ice in the unit to melt.<\/li>
      3. Turn the freezer back on. Wait until the DDL shows that the temperature is back in the normal range.<\/li>
      4. Transfer the vaccines back into the freezer, using the same transport protocol that you used to move them to the back-up unit.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Dealing with the data<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Download the data from both data loggers and email it to TempCheck@phila.gov<\/a>.<\/li>
        2. Include the following information in the email:
          1. When you took the vaccine out of the primary unit<\/li>
          2. When you put the vaccine into the back-up unit<\/li>
          3. When you started defrosting the primary unit<\/li>
          4. When you took the vaccine out of the back-up unit<\/li>
          5. When you put the vaccine back into the defrosted primary unit<\/li><\/ol><\/li>
          6. Reconnect the DDL and continue temperature monitoring as usual<\/li>
          7. Repackage the back-up DDL and send it back to PDPH.<\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Storage units, especially freezers, can sometimes build up too much ice. When you need to defrost your VFC\/VFAAR storage unit, TempCheck – our storage and handling coordinators – can help. TempCheck will help you safely storage the vaccine while you defrost the unit. Use this…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[141],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-program-updates"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to defrost your storage unit - Philadelphia Immunization Program<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vaccines.phila.gov\/index.php\/how-to-defrost-your-storage-unit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to defrost your storage unit - Philadelphia Immunization Program\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Storage units, especially freezers, can sometimes build up too much ice. 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