THEM:
Some providers of corporate vaccination and health fair events position themselves as "national providers." One of the methods used to back up the claim is to offer to ship to corporate sites anywhere in the country.

Here's the problem. Look closely at the small print under a heading such as "Administration" and you might find something that reads, more or less, like this:

Your supplies will arrive the day before your clinic. The vaccine will be packaged and, if left sealed in a reasonably cool room, will remain usable until the clinic the next day.

However, if your clinic is scheduled for a Monday, supplies will arrive the Friday before the Monday event. In this case, the vaccine must be removed from the Styrofoam cooler and placed in refrigeration. It must not be frozen. If the vaccine is not refrigerated over the weekend it will not be usable the day of your clinic. Do not put the entire Styrofoam cooler in refrigeration, just the vials of vaccine.

In other words, responsibility for receiving, handling, storing and protecting the valuable materials for an event falls on the corporation. Worse, the corporation is responsible for improper handling of vaccine and resulting spoilage. And whose job is it to properly pack and return unused vaccine in order to avoid being charged for unused product? Most likely, corporate personnel.

And now you know one way a low price "national" vendor is able to offer that attractive, low price per injection.

US:

1. VSA / HFA will NEVER require client personnel to handle product or supplies. One of the responsibilities of our nurse coordinators is to personally oversee receipt and proper deployment of all vaccines and supplies and, where appropriate, equipment. That's our job, not yours.
2. VSA / HFA charges on a per injection basis. A client is NEVER charged for unused vaccine and supplies. Quantities shipped for an event are based on employee registration. Handling of any overage is the responsibility of the nurse coordinator.

Always remember, the bitter taste of poor quality lasts long after the sweet smell of low price has faded!