Portable Cold Storage Solutions For 

Vaccine & Healthcare Applications

Portable Refrigeration: A Solution to Mobile Vaccination

COVID-19 vaccine(s) are on the horizon, with two vaccine candidates likely to be approved for emergency use by the FDA. However, as we await the vaccine(s), preparations are already underway for how to properly administer them once ready. One piece of this conversation is how to effectively and safely administer a vaccine to millions of Americans, regardless of location and access to healthcare facilities. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has overarching guidelines on how to properly and safely store and administer vaccines, which will be of particular importance as COVID-19 vaccines begin to be administered. 

One of the most common solutions utilized by healthcare providers and professionals is portable refrigeration. Mobile refrigeration is often thought of as a portable cooler or portable electric cooler, similar to those that many use for camping or tailgating that have electric operation. However, unlike those used for personal use, portable refrigeration designed for healthcare purposes gets to and maintains temperatures approved for standard vaccine storage (2-8°C), ensuring they are preserved at the proper temperature until distribution. 

Operation & Temperature Stability

Another facet of portable refrigeration to consider is operation - both in terms of portability and temperature stability. Many portable refrigerator units made for household or personal use come with 12V operation so that they can be plugged into your car for easy use. These 12V coolers, or electric coolers for cars and camping, ensure easy portability to off-site locations, making them ideal for those seeking reliable cold storage of beverages, foods, and the like. However, many personal use coolers have thermoelectric operation, which is often cheaper at the outset, but they do not generally go below 10° C.

Additionally, thermoelectric coolers and warmers must continuously operate to ensure a cool interior temperature creating not only an expensive unit but also one whose operation does not do well in warmer temperatures, creating issues with temperature stability. 

Electric mobile coolers with compressor-based cooling systems, however, can reach colder temperatures (2°C or below), making them capable of vaccine and medical supply cold storage. Furthermore, since they use a cycle operation (meaning they turn on and off as needed) to ensure a cool interior, they not only are a more cost-effective solution, but they also produce more temperature stability as they are not impacted by external temperatures like thermoelectric operating systems.

Portable Solutions Designed For User Convenience

Accucold’s line of portable refrigeration solutions provide trusted cold chain management on the go. Designed specifically for the storage of medical supplies, including vaccines, specimens, and other cold items, our portable refrigeration brings unparalleled flexibility for user convenience.