STUDY: 76 percent of health care providers do not store child vaccines properly

(WXYZ) - An alarming new study finds 76 percent of health care providers that were inspected were storing child vaccines at the wrong temperature.

The study was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).

There are approximately 44,000 providers enrolled in the VFC program, which provides free vaccines to children. To be eligible for the program, health care providers must meet certain requirements, such as storing vaccines at the correct temperature and monitoring expiration dates.

Inspectors at the VFC visited 45 providers who were enrolled in the program and administered the most vaccines in 2010.

They found that 76 percent of the 45 providers stored vaccines at temperatures that were too hot or too cold, which can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. It also increases the risk that children are not receiving the maximum protection from preventable diseases, researchers said. Health officials said storage issues do not pose a safety risk to the vaccine itself, however.

Thirteen providers also stored expired vaccines next to non-expired doses. Researchers said that practice could increase the likelihood that expired vaccines are administered to children.

The study also found that none of the 45 providers inspected met all of the vaccine management or documentation requirements listed by the VFC.

You can read more about this report by visiting the VFC website .