PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.16 No.49, December 21, 2023 Article TypePolicy NotesQuickStats

• Policy Notes 2023-12-21

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  Vaccine Storage and Management

  Minjeong Kim, Suyeon Jeong, KueYoung Lee, Sanggyun Jeong, Joonku Park

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(49): 1685-1697 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.49.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  Proper storage and management of vaccines are crucial to ensure safe and effective vaccination. Vaccines that are stored outside the recommended temperature range can lose their potency, reducing the efficacy of the vaccines and leading to wasteful expenditure. Furthermore, mishandling vaccines can lead to inadequate and a low rate of vaccination and potentially increase the spread of infectious disease. Therefore, for a successful vaccination program, it is imperative to retain the efficacy vaccines by ensuring their optimal storage from production to inoculation. It is recommended that for better handling of vaccines, the institutions should designate a responsible individual for daily management and safekeeping of vaccines as per standardized storage protocols. The use of appropriate storage equipment, regular temperature checks with monitoring devices, and proper maintenance of the equipment are crucial components of this process. Moreover, managing vaccine expiration dates is a vital aspect of ensuring safe vaccination. The designated individual should diligently manage the vaccine inventory from the moment of receipt until its usage or disposal. Moreover, managing vaccine expiration dates is a vital aspect of ensuring safe vaccination. Further, contingency plans should be prepared and backup storage equipment should be made available for rapid response during emergency. In this article, we will delve into the principles of vaccine storage and handling that are essential for safe and effective vaccination.

• Policy Notes 2023-12-21

  1 168 69

  Results of the Proficiency Test for Diagnostic Testing of Notifiable Infectious Diseases

  Ok-Kyu Park, Seung Geun Lee, Jae Sun Park, Gab Jung Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(49): 1698-1710 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.49.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  When an infectious disease arises, prompt and accurate identification of the causative pathogen through diagnostic tests becomes crucial. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) operates a proficiency testing program for diagnostic tests of notifiable infectious diseases. This program is designed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of national infectious disease diagnostic tests. Proficiency tests evaluate the ability of participating institutions to conduct inspections using pre-established inspection criteria and trained inspectors. It also evaluates and verifies the inspection's accuracy using substances similar to the samples. At the beginning of each year, a proficiency test plan is established for diagnostic tests of infectious diseases, and evaluations are conducted accordingly. The notifiable infectious disease proficiency test conducted by the KDCA from April 2022 to the end of February 2023 consisted of a total of 30 programs and included 95 test methods for 79 infectious diseases. About 910 institutions participated in the evaluation, including 286 public and 630 private medical institutions. Public institutions operated the majority of the 30 programs. As a result of the proficiency tests, the average pass rate for all participating institutions was 98.3%. This pass rate was consistent for both public and private institutions, with each achieving a pass rate of 98.3%. The KDCA plans to continue its efforts to improve the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic tests by managing the quality of tests for infectious diseases through the operation of a notifiable infectious disease proficiency test.

• QuickStats 2023-12-21

  0 39 46

  Trends in the Prevalence of Anemia, 2012–2021

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(49): 1711-1712 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.49.3

  

  

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• QuickStats 2023-12-21

  0 40 101

  Trends in the Prevalance Gap of Perceived Depressive Symptoms between Cities or Provinces, during 2013–2022

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(49): 1713-1714 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.49.4

  

  

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