The Australian Government spends approximately $446 million per year buying vaccines for the National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIP) – but approximately $22.3 million is lost annually due to cold-chain breaches, according to figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Cold-chain breaches occur when the recommended storage temperature range of between 2°C and 5°C degrees for storage and transportation is not met. Not only do cold-chain breaches add a significant cost to the NIP each year, but they pose a risk to public health as damaged vaccines may be unintentionally administered, potentially compromising the entire immunisation effort.
To help mitigate these losses and safeguard public health, PSS Distributors, leaders in Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) technology, has partnered with medical cold-storage manufacturer Vacc-Safe to introduce Vacc-Safe PowerGuard – Australia's first vaccine refrigerator with an integrated UPS battery backup. This ground-breaking solution ensures vaccines remain stored under optimal conditions – even during power outages – meeting and exceeding stringent government regulations.
"Cold-chain breaches pose a significant risk to the effectiveness of Australia's National Immunisation Program (NIP) and the loss of over $22 million in vaccines each year is a serious issue we can no longer ignore," Terrence Daniel, General Manager at PSS Distributors.
"The integration of a backup battery into a vaccine-safe refrigerator not only provides peace of mind to healthcare providers and ensures that vaccines remain effective and safe for use, even in the event of a power failure, but also reduces the cost and installation hassle of having to buy and install a separate backup battery, helping to ensure safe access to essential vaccines for all Australians," he says.
In accordance with government regulations, all vaccines must be stored in a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator that is data-logged and reviewed at least weekly. The Vacc-Safe PowerGuard vaccine refrigerator not only meets these regulations but sets new standards, with additional features such as UPS battery backup, high-precision temperature control, continuous data logging and weekly data-reporting capabilities, as well as a streamlined all-in-one design that eliminates the need to have a separate refrigerator and bulky UPS battery backup system.
The Vacc-Safe PowerGuard vaccine refrigerator is available to pharmacies and healthcare providers nationally on the UPS Distributors' website.
About us:
About PSS Distributors:
PSS Distributors is a leading Australian provider of power protection solutions, specialising in UPS systems designed to safeguard businesses from the impact of power disturbances. With a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, PSS Distributors continues to empower businesses with reliable, scalable, and cost-effective power backup solutions.
About Vacc-Safe:
Vacc-Safe is a trusted manufacturer of medical-grade refrigeration solutions, specialising in the development of purpose-built vaccine refrigerators that meet government standards for cold-chain management.
