Vaccinations are responsible for much of the security and health we enjoy today.

It’s thanks to vaccinations are we able to enjoy more food, travel further, and feel more peace-of-mind. Millions of lives have been saved thanks to the advent of several vaccines and even today there are still some viruses that must be kept at bay with regular shots. Anything less could expose entire populations to deadly and debilitating diseases. The work that goes into a vaccine isn’t just in the construction, but in the maintenance. The medical refrigerator is necessary to make sure every last administered shot is successful.

What goes into maintaining a medical refrigerator? What about the vaccine freezer for long-term storage? Here are five important things to know about what goes on behind the scenes.

The History Of Vaccines

Vaccinations have undergone a lot of hard work over the past three hundred years. Back in the late 1700’s Edward Jenner developed the ‘arm-to-arm’ inoculation against smallpox. This was a revolutionary creation at the time, involving taking material from a blister of someone infected with cowpox and injecting it into another person’s skin. Large-scale vaccine production would then become possible in the 1900’s, with recommended vaccines including smallpox, tetanus, and pertussis (or whooping cough). Even today vaccines are constantly being updated and modified to reflect changing viruses.

Growth Of Vaccines Over The Years

It’s estimated vaccines prevent more than two and a half million deaths every single year. Vaccinations are now a routine provided to children, with some requiring yearly injections, such as the flu shot. Despite this growth in medical technology there are still far too many children who go without this essential immunization. A recent study determined a little over 90% of children between the ages of 19 and 35 months have received the Polio vaccine. On the whole, it’s possible as many as 25 million children around the world do not have access to a routine vaccine series.

The Resurgence Of Measles

A disease thought to have been all but eliminated is starting to see a resurgence. The United States has reported several measles outbreaks over the past few years, causing more conversation about the necessity of vaccines. The World Health Organizations, as well as the Measles and Rubella Initiative, has estimated at least 15 million lives have been saved by the measles vaccination since 2000. The number of measles-related deaths decreased nearly 80% between 2000 and 2014, as well. Without routine vaccination adults and children alike are at risk.

Today’s Growing Flu Complications

It’s not just more extreme illnesses like measles and rubella that’s causing concern. Even the flu is starting to see more complications. The CDC has released an estimate that, since 2010, as many as 710,000 flu-related hospitalizations (on top of 55,000 flu-related deaths) have occurred. The flu bears similar symptoms to the common cold, such as fever, congestion, and nausea. Complications are most likely to affect elderly and immunocompromised populations — these include severe dehydration, chills, and high fever.

Taking Care Of Your Vaccines

The medical refrigerator is essential in keeping every last vaccine working as intended. Without a high-grade scientific refrigerator or scientific freezer to manage temperature, millions of people would be put at risk for illness or worse. The three most important steps to store your vaccines properly means maintaining temperature range, recording daily temperature range at the beginning of the workday, and checking the temperature whenever the medical refrigerator is accessed. Frozen vaccines should be stored between -58 degrees and five degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerated vaccines should be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thanks to hard work and the incredible technology behind vaccine storage refrigerators, we’re able to live long and healthy lives. Take good care of your vaccines in 2019 and make sure you’re using your freezers properly.