The cold chain is essential to assure the efficacy of the vaccines used in immunization programs. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and the practice adopted in vaccine storage in public units of the city of São Paulo. Forms were sent to 390 health units with custom activities, and 80 were selected for a visit and an interview with a health worker and for observation of the refrigerator. An indicator was built to summarize results, and scores were given to common items of the tools utilized, establishing an arbitrary classification of SUFFICIENT, REGULAR and INSUFFICIENT knowledge/accomplishment. Sixty percent of the units answered the form, all the selected units were visited, and 90 refrigerators were observed. SUFFICIENT results were achieved by 66% observations, 55% interviews, and 53% formularies. Training in vaccine units influenced positively higher scores in observations. Agreement among tools was low, leading to considerations on the way in which vaccines storage guidelines are conveyed, along with the need for systematic supervision to correct the faults detected.
Vaccines; Cold chain; Immunization Programs; Community health services
