What effect can exposure to improper temperatures have on vaccines?

Exposure to improper temperatures can significantly reduce the potency of vaccines. Vaccines are designed to be stored within specific temperature ranges to maintain their effectiveness. When vaccines are exposed to extremes in temperature, such as excessive heat or cold, their active ingredients can become unstable or degraded. This degradation can lead to a diminished immune response when the vaccine is administered, meaning that the vaccine may not provide the intended protection against the targeted disease.

Maintaining the cold chain, which ensures that vaccines are kept at the recommended temperatures from production to administration, is crucial for their efficacy. Therefore, any deviations from the proper storage conditions can compromise vaccine effectiveness, highlighting the importance of temperature monitoring and management in vaccine storage and handling.