What should be checked before administering an intranasal vaccine?

Before administering an intranasal vaccine, it is crucial to check the expiration date of the product. Vaccines can lose potency and efficacy after their expiration date, which could potentially lead to ineffective immunization. Ensuring that the vaccine is within its expiration period is essential for patient safety and to guarantee that the vaccine will provide the expected immunity against the targeted disease.

Other considerations, while important in the overall vaccination process, do not hold the same immediate significance as checking the expiration date of the vaccine itself. Patient weight may be relevant for some medications or vaccines that are dose-dependent but is not a standard requirement for intranasal vaccines. Reviewing a patient’s recent vaccinations is also important for understanding their immunization history, but it does not directly impact the administration of the specific intranasal vaccine being given at that moment. The availability of a tissue is practical for patient comfort during the administration of an intranasal vaccine, but it does not affect the vaccine's efficacy or safety. Thus, the expiration date is the most critical factor to address prior to administration.