Storing and transporting vaccines and medicines

Attention

  • Vaccines must be stored and transported within the recommended temperature range of +2°C to +8°C at all times — aim to store vaccines at +5°C
  • Most vaccines are destroyed by freezing, and are sensitive to heat
  • If not stored at correct temperature (cold chain breach) — vaccines will not work as well and people may not be immunised
  • Vaccines will arrive with a temperature monitoring device (eg TagAlert). Ensure you know how to read it — contact pharmacy if instructions unclear
  • Know what monitoring system to use when vaccines are used away from the clinic — (eg coolers, ice packs, thermometers/data loggers)
  • Clinics must have a written policy for vaccine management. Designate 1-2 people to look after vaccines. Refer to the ‘Strive for 5’ national vaccine storage guidelines — keep copies available

Vaccine Storage

Vaccine fridge
  • Purpose built vaccine refrigerator plugged into back-up power supply, if available
  • Label power supply 'DO NOT turn off power or disconnect this refrigerator'
  • Clear (glass) door, clearly labelled shelves or baskets so you can see what’s inside without opening door
  • Warning sticker on glass door 'STOP Do not open door until you know which vaccines you need and where they are located'
  • Temperature probe on inside, temperature monitor on outside
  • Monitors supplied with vaccines (if appropriate)
  • Minimum of one heat and one freeze monitor on each shelf
  • Vaccines stored away from sides, top and bottom to allow for circulation of air
  • Stock rotated — new stock behind current stock

Remember:

  • Vaccines used outside main clinic must be transported and monitored as per national vaccines storage guidelines ('Strive for 5')
  • Only vaccines, blood products or antivenoms are stored in vaccine fridge
  • Do not store food or other goods in vaccine fridge

Cold Chain Breach

  • Temperature monitoring device will indicate freezing or heat exposure
  • Check highest and lowest fridge temperatures twice a day, before opening fridge for first time and at end of the day — record on temperature graph chart
  • If big variations from 2–8°C temperature range — find out why. May be the weather, power supply, fridge, thermometer/monitor problem
  • Adjust fridge settings slightly if you need to, but don't make sudden, drastic changes. Fridge temperature controls can be tricky
  • If vaccines are too warm or too cold when they arrive OR if recorded fridge temperatures are outside 2–8°C range (cold chain breach) — store where they will not be used, follow cold chain breach procedure AND talk with pharmacy or state vaccine centre to find out what to do with them
  • Fix problems as soon as you can to stop loss of vaccines and possibility of giving vaccines that won’t work

Power cuts

  • Do not open fridge door
  • If you know power is going off for more than a few hours
    • Take vaccines out, close door quickly
    • Surround or wrap vaccines loosely in insulating material (eg polystyrene chips, shredded paper, bubble wrap, newspaper) put in esky
    • Do not let bare ice bricks touch vaccines — may freeze
    • Put esky back in fridge with ice bricks, keep door closed, keep heat and freeze sensitive monitors with vaccines

Supporting resources