After a session site, a nurse finds a partially used vial of reconstituted MR vaccine. According to the multidose vial policy, when must this vial be discarded?

• A Within 28 days of opening
• B Within 6 hours of reconstitution
• C It may be kept overnight in the ILR and used next day
• D Within 4 hours of reconstitution or at the end of the session, whichever is earlier ✓

Explanation

Reconstituted vaccines, namely BCG, MR and JE, contain no preservative and support bacterial growth once diluted. They must be discarded within 4 hours of reconstitution or at the end of the session, whichever comes earlier, regardless of whether any doses remain. They are never carried over to the next session. The Open Vial Policy allowing reuse applies only to unopened multi-dose liquid vaccines such as OPV, DPT and pentavalent.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.