Adequate vaccine disposal has been a challenge for many healthcare facilities and the pharmaceutical sector. Since vaccines are classified as hazardous medical waste, medical service providers must meet essential storage and transportation regulations for leftover materials.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the basics of safe vaccine disposal—as well as details about how we can
Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste Management
The disposal of expired or outdated vaccines and empty vaccine vials requires the same treatment as hazardous pharmaceutical waste. There are stringent guidelines surrounding the collection, transportation, disposal, and destruction of pharmaceutical waste.
Pharmaceutical companies must be more careful about the different categories of medical waste when dealing with vaccines. While empty syringes and unused vials might be okay for regular trash, this isn’t the case with multi-dose vials, medical sharp waste, prefilled syringes, and high-toxicity potential.
For instance, sharp waste will require a separate color-coded container because it can easily pierce the skin and potentially transfer infectious waste.
Importance of Proper Disposal
Proper disposal of vaccine waste is a major responsibility; failure to implement safe vaccine disposal protocols can lead to serious viral outbreaks and bacterial infections. Improper vaccine disposal can put your staff at risk, endanger patients, and affect the environment outside your facility as well.
How We Can Help
Medical-Systems specializes in safe and compliant pharmaceutical waste disposal. We’ve designed efficient collection systems that can help your healthcare organization mitigate the risk of handling and disposing of vaccine waste.
We start by assessing the pharmaceutical waste products generated at your facility and classifying them as hazardous, non-hazardous, or controlled substances waste. Depending on the assessment, we then design a containment, disposal, and destruction plan in line with applicable waste management regulations.
For instance, RCRA/Hazardous pharmaceutical drugs are listed as P, U, or D, depending on the type and hazard level to humans and the environment. Our approach focuses on correctly identifying and categorizing hazardous components from general medication so it can be handled appropriately. This technique allows you to minimize costs and ensure that your waste is being disposed of in line with Denver, Colorado regulations.
For more information about our pharmaceutical waste management services, call (877) 220-7736 or request a free quote for your biomedical waste disposal needs.
