About Inventory Management
Proper inventory management helps providers stock sufficient vaccine supply for patient populations served, minimize vaccine waste, and account for all vaccines received in their practice or clinic.
Essential Principles
Incorporate these principles into practice protocols.
Ordering & Receiving
Running out of vaccine impacts patient care and results in missed vaccination opportunities. Accurate forecasting based on usage trends and seasonal spikes in demand minimizes under-ordering (insufficient supply) and over-ordering (potential waste). Immediate inspection of vaccine shipments ensures shipments contain accurate vaccine types and quantities and allows for timely resolution of shipment incidents.
Inventory Control and Documentation
Proper stock rotation ensures short-dated vaccines are used first; regular inventory audits ensure providers always know how much stock is on hand or needed; documentation of inventory stock helps account for all doses from receipt through administration.
Waste Mitigation
Proactive steps help minimize unused doses, prevent administration of expired vaccines and subsequent revaccination, and segregate waste returns for excise tax credit. Refer to Minimizing Waste for guidance.