The TechNet E-Forum

This mailing list and forum was initiated in 1998 by WHO to disseminate information regarding immunization services delivery, logistics, innovation and research and to fuel discussion.

Today it is an interactive medium for immunization experts, researchers, academicians, equipment manufacturers and many others. Topics in the area of vaccine cold chain address equipment (chest vs. cabinet refrigerators, front-opening refrigerators, kerosene/bottled-gas refrigerators/solar refrigerators, hydrofluorocarbon/hydrocarbon or HFC/HC-based refrigeration, cold boxes, vaccine carriers, ice packs); maintenance and rehabilitation, including disposal of Chloro-Flouro-Carbon or CFC refrigeration equipment; logistics, covering transportation, storage and distribution; pricing; budgets; PQS/PIS (WHO Performance Quality and Safety parameters and Production Information Sheets); manufacturers; vaccine forecasting and volume calculators; data loggers, thermometers/temperature monitoring tools/methods like Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM), calculators; vaccine freezing; temperature monitoring tools/methods like data loggers, thermometers, Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVM), freeze tags, shake test, Cold Chain Monitor (CCM) cards; Effective Vaccine Store Management (EVSM); MIS (vaccine and equipment stock management software); vaccine freezing; and market assessment. Immunization waste and injection safety are also popular topics and span medical waste/health-care waste management, technologies (needle/hub cutters, safety boxes, incinerators), and overall economics of disposal. The forum is also an excellent source to learn at first hand about the latest developments in vaccines and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).