The profile of cold chain management of vaccines in primary healthcare centre in Kupang, Indonesia

Background: Vaccine quality is strongly influenced by the cold chain application in vaccine storage and distribution at the Primary Healthcare Center. Objective: This study aimed to describe the cold chain management in storing and distributing vaccines at the Primary Healthcare Centre in the Kupang City area. Method: This study was a cross-sectional study. The data collection instrument used a checklist sheet containing 27 vaccine storage parameters and 8 (eight) vaccine distribution parameters. The research look at the vaccine storage and distribution. The sample uses the entire population, namely 11 Primary Healthcare Centre in the City of Kupang. Result: It was found that 19 vaccine storage criteria had been implemented in all Primary Healthcare Centre. Eight storage criteria had not been implemented in all Primary Healthcare Centre. Furthermore, in the distribution practice category of eight criteria, five of them had been implemented by all Primary Healthcare Center, while three criteria had not been met. Practice that need to be improved were in thermometer calibration, availability of storage and distribution SOPs, validation of delivery equipment, availability of storage room air circulation equipment. Conclusion: To conclude, the implementation of cold chain in vaccine storage and distribution practices in 11 sub-district healthcare centers was not optimal, therefore it needs to be improved.