Evaluation of Cold Chain Management for Vaccines in Primary Healthcare Centres in Gombe State

Vaccine cold chain integrity is essential to maintaining vaccine potency and achieving immunization program targets, yet breaks in cold chain management are frequently reported in Nigerian primary healthcare centres. This mixed-methods study evaluated cold chain management practices and their impact on vaccine viability across 15 primary healthcare centres in Gombe metropolis and Kwami local government areas, Gombe State, in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Data were collected using structured observational checklists, refrigerator temperature logs reviewed over 90 days, and key informant interviews with vaccine store managers. Vaccine vial monitors (VVMs) of randomly selected vaccine vials were assessed. Temperature excursions, defined as storage temperatures outside the 2 to 8 degrees Celsius range, were recorded in 60 percent of facilities over the review period. Functional refrigerators were absent in two facilities. VVM status indicated potential vaccine compromise in 18.7 percent of assessed vials. Power outages averaging 6.2 hours per day were the primary driver of cold chain failure. Staff reported no formal cold chain training in 53 percent of facilities. These critical findings indicate widespread cold chain failure in Gombe PHCs, with direct implications for vaccination efficacy and childhood disease prevention. Solar-powered refrigeration, real-time temperature monitoring systems, and routine cold chain training are urgently recommended. Keywords: cold chain management, vaccine viability, primary healthcare, Gombe State, immunization.