The modern medical field is far more advanced than it was even 500 years ago. Since then, innovations such as germ theory, microscopes, sterilization, and vaccines have transformed medicine as we know it, allowing many more lives to be saved. Vaccines in particular go a long way in preventing the spread of deadly viruses, and the concept of vaccines dates back further than some people may realize. But visiting the doctor to get a shot is one thing, while storing dozens of temperature-sensitive vaccines is another. Vaccines are sensitive to temperature, so vaccine refrigerator freezers, undercounter lab refrigerators, and other medical grade freezer units should be used to store them until use. The staff at a research lab may look for undercounter lab refrigerators to save room, and the staff at a larger hospital might get undercounter lab refrigerators as well as massive units that take up a lot of floor space. These freezers may vary widely in size and storage capacity, to suit any wholesale buyer’s needs.
On Vaccines and Their History
Vaccines are not yesterday’s invention. In fact, they date back to the year 1796, when a British scientist named Edward Jenner developed what he called the “arm to arm” inoculation method to protect patients from smallpox. To do this, he would extract a tissue sample from the skin blister of a cowpox patient, then transfer it to a second patient’s skin. With this controlled exposure, the second patient’s immune system is trained to fight off cowpox and smallpox. This proved a success, and vaccines have been in use ever since. By the 1940s, vaccines were being mass produced for the first time, often to fight typical diseases of the day such as smallpox, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. By now, in the 21st century, even more diseases are controlled with vaccines, such as measles and Polio.
When a baby is born, its immune system is still developing. In times past, many babies and children died of disease, but today’s vaccines have put a stop to those vicious child mortality rates. Now, new parents may even be given a schedule for when to bring their child in for routine shots during the first few years of that child’s life. This will greatly bolster the child’s immune system and protect it. Older adults may get shots to update their flu immunity, for example, and many communities even hold yearly flu drives to protect everyone. Senior citizens may get shots to reinforce their age-worn immune systems, and this helps to prevent disease from spreading in crowded retirement homes.
Storage Solutions for Vaccines
Vaccines have saved millions of lives over the years, and in fact the number of yearly measles-related deaths dropped 79% from 2000 to 2014. But vaccines are also fragile, and need to be stored at a proper temperature. Ordinary freezers and fridge units will not suffice, since they are designed for food and may suffer wide changes in temperature as their doors are opened. That will compromise the delicate vaccines inside. Instead, undercounter lab refrigerators and other medical grade freezers and fridges should be used, which are designed to carefully regulate their internal temperature. Such units might not be found at an ordinary retail outlet, but wholesale buyers can find them online.
When looking for undercounter lab refrigerators or large standalone units to buy, the staff at a medical site should factor in a few things. For one, they should get a unit that fits their floor plan and stores enough vaccines at once for their use. A small, cramped research lab may not have the room for a huger standalone unit that contains hundreds of vaccines at once. But the staff there can buy an undercounter lab refrigerator, not unlike a dishwasher. Small, benchtop freezers can also be found on the market as well. By contrast, the staff at a large hospital may have both the floor space and the need for a huge medical freezer. Buyers can also visit the secondary market to find gently used freezers at a discounted price, but they are advised to look over a freezer or fridge unit before buying it from the secondary market. They must make sure that the unit will fulfill their needs.
