Title: How to avoid AEFIs
Course: Immunization - Ethiopia (Full)

How to avoid AEFIs

In order to avoid AEFIs as much as possible, you should follow these guidelines:

- Fulfil the five requirements for using opened multi-dose vials (see Box 7.1).
- Do not vaccinate clients with absolute contraindications to immunization (see Box 7.2).
- Always reconstitute vaccines with the diluent supplied by the manufacturer. Never use another diluent.
- Discard reconstituted vaccines and PCV10 six hours after reconstitution, or at the end of the immunization session, whichever comes first.
- Do not keep other drugs in vaccine refrigerators if at all possible. If you have to keep other injectable drugs in the same refrigerator, put them on a separate shelf. AEFIs are likely to occur if you give an injection of a drug instead of the vaccine by mistake, or use a drug instead of the correct diluent.
- Prepare immunizations in a clean area where contact with blood and body fluids is unlikely.
- Use a sterile needle and syringe to prepare every injection dose immediately before administering it. Do not prepare several syringes in advance and do not re-use injection equipment.
- Do not touch the needle and never leave it in the top of the vaccine vial.
- If you use auto-disable (AD) syringes, AEFIs due to contamination should not occur.
- The child should be held firmly, so that there cannot be a sudden movement during the injection.

Do not leave the needle in the vial!