WHO works to maintain the quality, safety and performance of products and devices that are used by immunization programmes. It also aims to facilitate easier product selection and optimal product choice. Information and tools to support planning and procurement are available on this website:

• tailor-made interactive selection tools are offered for refrigerators, freezers, cold boxes and vaccine carriers (provided by UNICEF Supply Division)
• Total Cost of Ownership tool to support budget planning exercises
• detailed guidance on selecting the appropriate product from each category.

COMPLETE GUIDANCE: A complete inventory of information and tools for product selection, planning and procurement by national immunization programmes, per IMD-PQS product category is available under the "Guidance Documents" section of this website: "Supporting Information for Users".

Interactive selection tools

Various product selection and planning tools are available for the use of national immunization programmes. They help EPI programme managers and technicians to select the most appropriate equipment through guided, step-by-step analysis of the operating context, performance needs and any challenges and constraints that their programme faces at its various health service points and vaccine storage centres.

Two product selection tools are currently available:

• UNICEF Supply Division Cold Chain Equipment Selection Tool for Refrigerators and Freezers (RF): The RF selection tool helps decision-makers evaluate prequalified refrigerators and freezers. It includes solar, compression and battery-powered technologies. It also enables search, comparison and selection based on capacity, freeze-protection grade, extended operating time, voltage regulation and temperature monitoring features.

• UNICEF Supply Division Cold Chain Equipment Selection Tool for Cold Boxes and Vaccine Carriers (CB/VC): The CB/VC selection tool enables EPI programme planners to evaluate available cold boxes or vaccine carriers through exploration of the different types of prequalified carriers. Users can enter data based on the needs of their specific operating contexts using multiple filters. Product comparison tables are available to compare up to three models.

Additionally, PATH's Total Cost of Ownership tool can help users analyse the costs of purchasing and maintaining cold chain equipment over time. The tool facilitates country-specific customization for modelling capital and operating expenses of WHO-prequalified equipment via interactive worksheets.

Other selection guidance

WHO encourages product users and product procurers to also consult the following guidance on product selection and planning:

• UNICEF's Cold Chain Support Package: provides commercial and technical information to enable an efficient and effective procurement process for cold chain products and services
• Gavi's Cold Chain Equipment Optimisation Platform.
• TechNet-21 Cold Chain Equipment: provides additional information related to the selection and use of cold chain equipment.