When storing vaccines in the refrigerator, what practice should be followed?

Using water bottles to help stabilize temperatures in the refrigerator is the correct practice when storing vaccines. Vaccines are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and maintaining a consistent, appropriate temperature is crucial for their effectiveness. Water bottles can absorb cold, thus maintaining a stable environment within the refrigerator, especially during brief door openings when warm air enters the unit. This helps to prevent the temperature from rising above the recommended range, ensuring that the integrity of the vaccines is preserved.

In contrast, dorm-style units are often not designed for optimal temperature control and may have inadequate insulation, making them unsuitable for vaccine storage. Storing vaccines on the bottom of the refrigerator can be problematic, as this area often experiences temperature variability and may not be the coldest part of the unit. Keeping vaccines and food on separate shelves is good practice for cross-contamination reasons, but it does not address the critical temperature stability that water bottles provide for vaccine storage.