At the district vaccine store, large quantities of vaccines are held before onward distribution to blocks and PHCs. Which pairing of equipment and function is correct at this level?
- A Walk-in cooler maintains minus 20 degrees Celsius for bulk OPV storage
- B Walk-in cooler maintains plus 2 to plus 8 degrees Celsius for bulk storage of all vaccines except OPV, which goes to the walk-in freezer ✓
- C Deep freezers at the district store maintain plus 2 to plus 8 degrees Celsius for pentavalent vaccine
- D Vaccine carriers are the primary long-term storage equipment at the district store
Correct answer: B. Walk-in cooler maintains plus 2 to plus 8 degrees Celsius for bulk storage of all vaccines except OPV, which goes to the walk-in freezer
Explanation
At regional and district levels, walk-in coolers hold large volumes of vaccines at plus 2 to plus 8 degrees Celsius, while walk-in freezers at minus 20 degrees Celsius store OPV and prepare ice packs. Option A reverses the cooler's function. Pentavalent must never sit near minus 20 degrees because it is freeze-sensitive, and vaccine carriers serve transport for hours, not bulk storage.
Reference: WHO Immunization in Practice: A Practical Guide for Health Staff, 2015 update ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.