title: Clinical guidance on the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine after inadvertent freezing and warming.
abstract: The immediate and long-term impact of temperature deviations that may occur in clinical practice on live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) potency was examined in four distinct studies that exposed vaccine to freeze/thaw cycles, warming, and heating conditions. No significant loss of vaccine potency was observed after three freeze/thaw cycles, warming of vaccine to 15°C (59°F) for 72 hours or less, exposure to room temperature (25°C/77°F) for 12 hours or less, or after heating to 37°C (99°F) for 6 hours or less. The results of these studies demonstrate that LAIV potency can potentially be maintained after exposure to temperature deviations. If a particular annual formulation of LAIV is exposed to temperatures outside of the recommended storage range, practitioners should contact the manufacturer for guidance regarding proper vaccine handling.
authors.affiliation: MedImmune, Gaithersburg, MD, USA. tobacks@medimmune.com
authors.forename: Seth L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Toback
authors.forename: Gregory M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Susla
authors.forename: Allan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ambrose
mesh_terms: D004356:Drug Storage; D005615:Freezing; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012449:Safety; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines