ISMP offers tips to ensure vaccination safety

In a recent safety bulletin, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada highlighted that comprehensive vaccine inventory management and reconstitution practices support safe vaccine use. It stated that reported safety incidents have involved use of expired vaccines or omission of the reconstitution step (e.g., not mixing the vaccine with a diluent). Some preventative tips include:Regularly monitor inventory to identify expired products. Promptly remove from stock and clearly identify any expired vaccines for disposal or return (according to provincial regulations).Designate an area that is free of distractions and stocked with all necessary resources (e.g., product monographs, workflow checklist) for reconstituting and preparing vaccines.Read: Pharmacist ordered to take course after refusing to alcohol swab before administering flu shotIncidents reported under the area of “patient care processes” have included incorrect product (e.g., wrong vaccine) and incorrect dose (e.g., pediatric dose for an adult). Some preventatives tips include:Schedule vaccinations with sufficient time and staffing.Consider bringing into the room the vaccine(s) for one demographic (e.g., pediatric) at a time to minimize incorrect patient errors.Avoid preparing or pre-drawing vaccines for more than one patient at a time. If this is not possible, label each syringe (e.g., with vaccine name, dose/volume, beyond-use date, and patient name) according to jurisdictional regulations.Ask the patient what vaccine they are expecting, then verbally confirm the product name, dose/volume, and indication for the vaccine being administered. Show the vaccine label (on either the syringe or the vial) to the patient/caregiver, where feasible.This article appeared in the June/July 2025 issue of Tech Talk. Find it and other Tech Talk issues here.

ISMP offers tips to ensure vaccination safety

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