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WHO Catalogue of Prequalified Immunization Devices

WHO Catalogue of Prequalified Immunization Devices


The WHO Catalogue of Prequalified Immunization Devices includes characteristics and features of all immunization-related products and devices currently prequalified by WHO for procurement by United Nations agencies. The Catalogue replaces the fomer WHO/UNICEF Product Information Sheets (PIS) of which the last edition was published in 2000.

Only products that are included in the WHO Catalogue of Prequalified Immunization Devices are recommended for procurement by UN agencies.

Products that successfully meet WHO standards for immunization products and devices are "prequalified" for use in any national immunization programme to which they are relevant. Prequalified products are listed in the Catalogue and accompanied by product data sheets (accessible and downloadable on WHO ePQS) to help end users select the most appropriate products for their specific needs. Each edition of the catalogue is date-stamped and updated automatically in real-time to ensure that the information it contains remains current.

The Catalogue does not provide an exhaustive overview of products for use in immunization programmes, it includes only those products that have been independently assessed in accordance with WHO verification procedures and found to meet the requirements of the relevant performance specifications. The fact that certain products and manufacturers are not included in the Catalogue does not mean that, if independently tested, they would not be found to comply with the relevant WHO performance specifications. WHO therefore encourages manufacturers to apply for prequalification to support the development of a competitive marketplace.

WHO may suspend or withdraw products from the Catalogue. Reasons for suspension or withdrawal are listed in the SOP 011 How to remove a prequalified product from the PQS database.
 

Organization of catalogue

The Catalogue is organized as follows:

  • E001: Cold rooms, freezer rooms, and related equipment

  • E002: Refrigerated vehicles

  • E003: Refrigerators and freezers

  • E004: Cold boxes and vaccine carriers

  • E005: Coolant-packs and vaccine carriers

  • E006: Cold chain accessories

  • E007: Cold chain accessories

  • E008: Injection devices for immunization

  • E010: Waste management equipment

  • E013: Injection devices for therapeutic purposes.

Note: Categories E009, E011 and E012 are currently not in use.

Each catalogue section includes a brief presentation of the equipment category, details of currently prequalified products and links to relevant supporting documents, including equipment selection.

Every product has a unique reference: the IMD-PQS product code in the format: E0XX/XXX. The code comprises the category reference (e.g. E003) followed by a number that is exclusive to the product. A unique reference is never reassigned to another product, therefore breaks in the numerical sequence will appear when an item is removed from the catalogue.

Conditions of use

Information presented in the WHO Catalogue of Prequailfied Immunization Devices does not reflect the views or policies of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the mention of specific companies and products does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the WHO.

The Catalogue may be reproduced and translated in whole or in part for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission. However, no use may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever.

Disclaimers

Web-accessible links to sites external to the WHO are provided as additional resources in the Catalogue. However, no endorsement is implied and WHO is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided by external sites.

WHO does not guarantee that the Catalogue is complete or error free.

Furthermore, by including products in the Catalogue, WHO does not imply that:

  • the products which have been found to meet the relevant performance specifications will continue to do so,
  • nor that the products included in the Catalogue have obtained marketing authorization for their specified use or any other use in any country of the world, or that their use is otherwise in accordance with the national laws and regulations of any country, including but not limited to patent laws.

WHO wishes to alert procuring agencies that the improper handling and transportation of products may affect their quality, safety and/or effectiveness.

WHO disclaims any and all liability and responsibility for any injury, death, loss, or damage of any kind whatsoever that may arise as a result of, or in connection with the procurement, distribution and use of any product included in the Catalogue.

The symbols and abbreviations below are used in the product data sheets and category documents and guidelines.

--

information not applicable or not available

< 

less than or equal to

> 

greater than or equal to

°C

degrees celsius (centigrade)

A

ampere

AC

alternating current

BCG

bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (for tuberculosis)

cc

cubic centimetre

CFC

chloro-fluoro-carbon

cm

centimetre

DC

direct current

DT

diphtheria and tetanus toxoid vaccine

DTP

diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine

g

grams

G

gauge

GWP

global warming potential (CO2 = 1.0)

H x W x L

height by width by length (or depth)

HC

hydrocarbon

HDPE

high-density polyethylene

HepB

hepatitis B vaccine

HFC

hydro fluorocarbon

Hib

Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine

HIPS

high impact polystyrene

hrs

hours

Hz

hertz (cycles per second)

id

internal diameter

IPV

inactivated polio vaccine

kg

kilograms

km

kilometre

kVA

kilovolt-ampere

kWh

kilowatt-hours

L

litres

m

metre

m3

cubic metre

max

maximum

min

minimum

ml

millilitre

mm

millimetre

MMR

measles-mumps-rubella vaccine

MR

measles-rubella vaccine

No.

number

od

outer diameter

ODP

ozone depletion potential

OPV

oral polio vaccine

PoA

price on application

psi

pounds per square inch

PVC

polyvinyl chloride plastic

RPM

revolutions per minute

TT

tetanus toxoid vaccine

V

volt

VAC

voltage alternating current

VDC

voltage direct current

W

watt

YF

yellow fever vaccine