Vaccines kept safely at Pacific's new cold store [1]
Monday, May 5, 2014 - 17:06. Updated on Monday, May 5, 2014 - 17:47.
A regional cold storage facility for vaccines has been established in Nadi, Fiji. The facility was donated by the New Zealand Government.
In the past vaccines were kept with imported frozen produce. Now the new cold facility will store vaccines at its ideal temperature and and can accommodate stock for 12 Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Niue, Nauru, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The vaccines are procured by the United Nations as part of a Vaccine Independence Initiative, funded by donations from the New Zealand, United States and Japanese Government.
A United Nations Pacific Representative, Dr. Karen Allen stated “Without a proper storage facility, there is no guarantee vaccines are 100% potent when they reach their final destination. I’m sure all Pacific Island Countries, health workers, parents and caregivers, are just as appreciative as UNICEF for this storage facility.”
“A child who is not immunised is more likely to be sick, disabled, undernourished or could possibly die. Vaccines protect individuals and populations against diseases such as measles, meningitis, polio, tuberculosis, pneumonia and tetanus,” she said.