Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
his chapter will help you prepare for your
first vaccine shipment. Vaccines only work
when they are viable, that is, when they are intact –
undamaged and uncontaminated. To ensure vac-
cines are viable or potent orgood, you must main-
tain them between the manufacturer-recommended
temperature ranges that are not too cold or too
warm. This information is available in the package
insert. Although most vaccines should not be frozen,
certain vaccines containing varicella vaccine virus
(VAR, MMRV, and Zostavax) require frozen storage.
In addition, several vaccines including MMR, MMRV,
VAR, Zostavax, IPV, HPV (Gardasil 9), meningo -
coccal ACWY (Menveo), meningococcal B (Bexsero),
and certain formulations of influenza vaccine (Aflu -
ria, Fluad, Fluarix, Flublok, FluLaval, FluMist, Flu virin,
and Flucelvax) should be protected from light.
Before we get started on this important topic, be
sure to review the three resources shown below.
The first two provide some basic information to help
as you are setting up your vaccine operations, while
the third is a guide that offers a wealth of infor -
mation to help with almost any vaccine storage and
handling issue you are likely to encounter.
Checklist for Safe Vaccine Storage and Handling
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3035.pdf
Don't Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors
in Vaccine Storage and Handling!
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3036.pdf
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/
storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
step
:
Vaccine Storage and Handling
T
Step-by-Step: Vaccine Storage
and Handling Tasks
Receive vaccine shipments
– Open package immediately
– Assess for proper storage conditions of
the vaccine shipment upon arrival
– Store vaccines immediately at the recom-
mended storage temperature
– Know where to place vaccines within the
refrigerator or freezer
Monitor and record temperatures at least
twice each day
– Choosing thermometers
If there’s a problem, take appropriate action
right away; report power failures or other
storage issues immediately!
Transport vaccines properly (and only when
absolutely necessary)
– Transporting frozen varicella-containing
vaccines to an offsite clinic location
To ensure vaccines are viable or potent or
good,you must maintain them between the
manufacturer-recommended temperature
ranges that are not too cold or too warm.
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
Receive vaccine shipments
Open package immediately
Vaccine deliveries should be made only when your
vaccine coordinator or backup person is present.
But it is important for everyone in your clinic –
especially your front desk staff or any individuals
who receive deliveries – to know how important it
is to store these fragile vaccines promptly when
they arrive. Don’t let a vaccine package sit at the
front desk or outside your front or back door!
Assess for proper storage conditions
of the vaccine shipment upon arrival
Packages should be opened and inspected imme-
diately for any damage and to determine if the
packages seem too warm or too cold to the touch.
Examine temperature indicators if they are included
in the box. Check the vaccine quantities, lot num-
bers, and expiration dates against the packing slip.
If there are discrepancies, contact the source of
the shipment (e.g., manufacturer, distributor, state
health department) immediately.
When your shipments arrive, check to see that the
inactivated vaccines are cold but not frozen, and
that the varicella and Zostavax vaccines are frozen.
MMR vaccine may be refrigerated or frozen. Nasal
spray influenza vaccine is refrigerated. If a tempera-
ture indicator (often, this is a temperature-sensitive
strip that changes colors) is included in the ship-
ment, check it to see if appropriate temperatures
have been maintained. Not all shipments will con-
tain a temperature indicator. That’s acceptable if
the shipments have been packed according to cer-
tain FDA-approved packing standards. But make
30 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
A Little Background:
Types of Vaccines and Diluents
Inactivated vaccines can be composed of either
killed whole viruses, or fractions of either viruses or
bacteria. Inactivated vaccines are damaged by freez-
ing. The inactivated vaccines needed by many
adults include:
tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/Td);
injectable influenza;
pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate;
human papillomavirus;
hepatitis A and B;
meningococcal ACWY and B vaccines; and
zoster (shingles; Shingrix).
Live attenuated vaccines consist of a weakened
form of the live virus. They are easily damaged or
destroyed by heat and light. This makes it even more
important that they be stored and handled with
extreme care. Live attenuated vaccines available for
many adults include:
measles, mumps and rubella (MMR);
varicella (chickenpox);
zoster (shingles; Zostavax); and
nasal spray influenza vaccine
(when recommended).
Diluents are liquids used with some vaccines.
Most vaccines are provided as a liquid that is already
packaged in a syringe, or in a vial, ready to be
drawn into a syringe and injected. However, some
vaccines are provided as a lyophilized (freeze-dried)
powder. A separate liquid (the diluent) is provided
for lyophilized vaccines. The diluent must be
added to the lyophilized powder before injection, a
process called “reconstitution.A lyophilized vaccine
must only be reconstituted with the specific diluent
provided for that vaccine; diluents are not inter-
changeable. Most vaccine diluents may be stored
either in the refrigerator or maintained at room
temperature. Check the package insert to determine
appropriate storage guidance for the specific dilu-
ent you are using. Summary information may be
found in the Immunization Action Coalition’s (IAC)
Vaccines with Diluents: How to Use Them, available
at www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3040.pdf.
It is important for everyone in your
clinic .. . to know how important it is to
store these fragile vaccines promptly
when they arrive.
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
step 3: Vaccine Storage and Handling 31
sure the container included appropriate insulation
and gel packs or ice packs and that any ice packs
have not completely thawed. If the product seems
to have been exposed to too-high or too-low (i.e.,
frozen) temperatures or something seems amiss,
put the vaccine in a specially marked, segregated
area or tray in the refrigerator or freezer (whichever
is indicated according to the type of vaccine deliv-
ered). Call the source of your shipment (e.g., man-
ufacturer, distributor, state health department) for
advice about what to do next.
Store vaccines immediately at the
recommended storage temperature
Most vaccines (all inactivated vaccines and live nasal
spray influenza vaccine) must be stored between
2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F), which is the recommended
refrigerator temperature. Live varicella (chickenpox)
and Zostavax (shingles) vaccines must be stored
frozen between -50° to -15°C (-58° to +5°F). These
vaccines may be temporarily stored in a refrigerator
(between 2° to 8°C [36° to 46°F]) for up to 72 hours
before use, if they
have not been
recon stituted and
will be used within
that time period.
If they are not used within 72 hours, they must be
discarded. Once these vaccines have been stored
in the refrigerator, they must not be refrozen; once
they have been reconstituted, you have only 30
minutes in which to administer these sensitive vac-
cines before they lose potency and cannot be used.
Bottom line – don’t remove these vaccines from
the freezer or reconstitute them until you have your
patient sitting in front of you! (More information
on this subject is located in Step 5: Administering
Vaccines.)
The live MMR vaccine can be stored in either the
freezer or the refrigerator. However, once the vac-
cine has been drawn into the syringe, it must be
used within 8 hours or discarded.
It is critical to
keep each vaccine
at its proper stor-
age temperature.
A simple sign on
the refrigerator
and freezer can
remind you where
each vaccine goes.
For example, the
Immunization
Action Coalition’s
(IAC) handy
Vaccine Handling
Tips, available at
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3048.pdf
, can be posted
on your refrigerator and freezer doors to remind
staff of the appropriate storage temperatures and
other basics of good vaccine management.
Remember, when vaccines get too warm or too cold,
you can’t tell by looking or feeling if they have been
damaged. That’s why it’s so critical to monitor
and record the temperatures inside your refrigerator
and freezer at least twice each day to make sure they
are within the proper range. If the temperature
goes out of range, you must take immediate steps
to respond to the situation. IAC’s Vaccine Storage
Troubleshooting Record, available at
www.immunize.
org/catg.d/p3041.pdf
, offers guidance to help you
determine what should be done in this situation.
If the product seems to have been exposed to
too-high or too-low (i.e., frozen) temperatures
or something seems amiss, put the vaccine
in a specially marked, segregated area or tray
in the refrigerator or freezer.
It is critical to keep each
vaccine at its proper
storage temperature.
cdc
31
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
32 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
Know where to place vaccines
within the refrigerator or freezer
Vaccines should always be stored in the middle of
the refrigerator or freezer – never in the doors.
Why? Because items stored in
the door are frequently exposed
to warm temperatures when the
unit is opened. CDC's “best
storage practice” is to place the
vaccines in the center refrigera-
tor space, contained in the
original packaging, inside desig-
nated storage trays positioned 2 to 3 inches from
refrigerator walls. Also, be sure to keep older vac-
cines toward the front of the shelf. When new prod-
uct arrives, “rotate your stock” by placing the newer
vaccines behind the older ones. This will help
ensure that vaccines with the earliest (soonest)
expiration dates are used first. CDC has developed
informative labels you can print and use to help
organize vaccine placement in your refrigerator or
freezer. These labels are found at
www.cdc.gov/
vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/guide/vaccine-storage-
labels.pdf
.
Monitor and record temperatures at least
twice each day
As you set up your refrigerator and freezer, you
should take steps to help stabilize and maintain
the proper temperatures in both units. You should
place at least two or three containers (for example,
plastic liter or gallon bottles) of water in areas
of the refrigerator where vaccine cannot be stored,
such as in the doors. Similarly, you should keep
several frozen water bottles in the freezer to help
maintain the cold temperature in the event of a
power outage. Get in the habit of periodically check-
ing the gasket seals of your refrigerator and freezer
units. These seals must be intact to ensure that
the door always closes completely.
You also should post the appropriate temperature
log sheets (both Celsius and Fahrenheit versions
are available through the links shown below) on
your refrigerator and freezer.
Celsius
refrigerator
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3037C.pdf
freezer
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3038C.pdf
Fahrenheit
refrigerator
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3037F.pdf
freezer
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3038F.pdf
Checking Expiration Dates
Be aware that if the expiration date on the vial consists
of just a month and a year (e.g., “12/18”), the vaccine
may be used until the last day of December 2018.
In this case, the expiration month includes the whole
month. If a full date is included (e.g., 9/15/18), then
the vaccine should not be used after the printed date.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC) Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit, available
at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/
storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
, provides additional infor-
mation about reading vaccine labels and determining
expiration dates. Never use a vaccine that has been
contaminated or has expired! If an expired vaccine –
even 1 day expired – is administered to a patient, the
dose must be repeated.
Vaccine should
always be stored
in the middle of
the refrigerator
or freezer never
in the doors.
C
F
cdc
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
Use the appropriate logs to document your twice-
each-day checks (first thing in the morning and
late afternoon before closing) of the temperatures
in your vaccine storage units.
And remember to pay attention
to the temperatures you’re
recording on these logs. It’s
easy to get in the habit of writ-
ing without noticing, even
when the temperature you have
just written down is out of range and requires
action. If you note an out-of-range temperature,
consult the Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record
at
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3041.pdf
for guid-
ance on appropriate actions to take.
Loss of power to a refrigerator or freezer can hap-
pen in a number of ways. The one that is easiest to
avoid is loss of power at the plug. For example,
maintenance workers or others might pull the plug
from the socket to free it for a “temporary” use,
such as using electrical equipment to clean the
floors. Make sure this doesn’t happen in your facility!
One of the simplest ways to prevent this problem
is to apply a bright and easily understood “Do Not
Unplug” sign (
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2090.pdf
)
right above the electrical outlet.
It also helps to put a “Do Not
Turn Off Circuit Breakersign
(
www.immunize.org/catg.d/
p2091.pdf
) by the breaker
box so that someone doesn’t
inadvertently cut off the power
supply to the vaccine storage
units.
Choosing thermometers
Thermometers are a critical part of good storage and
handling practice. A storage unit is only as effec-
tive as the temperature monitoring system inside.
An accurate temperature history that reflects the
actual vaccine temperatures is imperative to effec-
tive vaccine management.
Every freezer and refrigerator unit used to store
vaccine should have a calibrated thermometer. CDC
recommends using only calibrated thermometers
with a Certificate of Traceability and Calibration
Testing (“Report of Calibration”). This certificate
informs the user about a thermometers level of
accuracy compared to a recognized standard.
Before purchasing thermometers for your refriger -
ator and freezer units, you should review the exten-
sive information about thermometers found in
CDCs Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit (Toolkit),
available at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/
storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
.
In general, CDC recom-
mends thermometers that
measure temperatures
constantly (e.g., a continu-
ous monitoring and recording digital data logger or
“DDL”) and use a probe inserted into a glycol-filled
bottle. This arrangement more closely approximates
the vaccine vial temperature than measuring the
more variable temperature of the air in the storage
unit. CDC also recommends the thermometer
have an alarm for out-of-range temperature and be
capable of showing the current temperature as
well as the minimum and maximum temperatures
reached during a designated period of time. CDC
step 3: Vaccine Storage and Handling 33
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2091.pdf Item #P2091 (10/15)
Immunization Action Coalition
Sain t Pau l, Min nes ota
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-
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-
9009
www.vaccineinformation.org
www.immunize.org
WARN I NG!
EXPENSIVE VACCINE
IN STORAGE!
¡
AVISO!
Contiene vacunas caras.
DO NOT TURN OFF
CIRCUIT BREAKER #
nnn
No apague el interruptor
de circuito #
nnn
In the event of an electrical problem,
immediately contact
Si hay un problema con la electircidad,
comuniquese inmediatamente con
Remember to
pay attention to
the temperatures
you’re recording
on these logs.
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2090.pdf Item #P2090 (10/15)
Immunization Action Coalition
St. P aul, Mi nne sot a
651
-
647
-
9009
www.vaccineinformation.org
www.immunize.org
DO NOT UN PLUG
RE FRIGERATOR
OR FREEZER!
¡No d esconec te
el refrigerador o congelador!
EXPE NS IVE VACC IN E I N STO RAG E!
¡
AVIS O!
CO NTI EN E VAC UN AS C ARAS .
In the event of a problem, immediately contact
Si hay un problema, comuniquese inmediatamente con
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2090.pdf
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2091.pdf
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/
admin/storage/toolkit/storage-
handling-toolkit.pdf
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
34 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
does not recommend using: fluid-filled biosafe liquid
thermometers, bi-metal stem thermometers, food
thermometers, household thermometers, chart
recorders, infrared thermom eters, or thermometers
that are not calibrated.
Be sure to check the CDC Toolkit for answers to your
questions about choosing thermometers. State and
local health department immunization programs
also are excellent resources for information about
thermometers. Providers who receive Vaccines
for Children (VFC) vaccines or other vaccines pur-
chased with public funds should consult their immu-
nization program regarding thermometer recom-
mendations and requirements.
If there’s a problem, take appropriate
action right away; report power failures
or other storage issues immediately!
Power failures happen. It’s crucial that your clinic
fosters a culture of openness about reporting
interruptions in the power supply or other vaccine
mishaps. First, it’s a matter of ethics. You don’t
want to administer vaccine of questionable viability
to anyone. And you certainly don’t want to be
placed in the position of having to recall patients
and re-administer vaccines. Finally, if problems are
reported promptly, actions may be taken and you
may be able to salvage the affected vaccines.
If you suspect that vaccines have been exposed to
out-of-range temperatures or have been left out of
the refrigerator or freezer, mark those vaccine vials
with “Do Not Use” and transfer them to a func-
tioning refrigerator or freezer at the proper storage
temperature as soon as possible, while you are
determining if the vaccine is still viable. If the prob-
lem is a faulty refrigerator or freezer, immediately
record the temperature inside the affected unit to
help determine the timeframe of the exposure.
This is when using the recommended type of ther-
mometer really pays off! If you have been using a
continuously recording thermometer, you can
review information from the thermometer to deter-
mine when the temperature problem began. A
thermometer that records minimum and maximum
temperatures will indicate the lowest and highest
temperatures recorded since you last reset it. This
information can be invaluable in helping determine
if the vaccine may still be viable. If the vaccines
were inadvertently left out at room temperature or
were left in some other improper storage condition
(e.g., temperatures that are too warm or too cold),
record the length of time that may have elapsed.
Be sure to immediately notify the clinic supervisor
and vaccine coordinator about what has happened.
Then your vaccine coordinator will contact your
state or local health department and/or the manu-
facturer to discuss the situation and determine an
appropriate course of action.
Be sure to check the CDC Toolkit for answers
to your questions about choosing thermometers.
State and local health department immunization
programs also are excellent resources for
information about thermometers.
cdc
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
Be sure to check out IAC’s Vaccine Storage Trouble -
shooting Record at
www.immunize.org/catg.d/
p3041.pdf
and Emergency Response Worksheet at
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3051.pdf
for quick
guidance on what to do
when you discover vaccine
storage outside the recom-
mended temperature range.
If you are told that the vac-
cines should not be used,
use a permanent black
marker to write “nonviable” on the glass or label
and remove them from the refrigerator or freezer so
that they aren’t administered by mistake. Ask your
state health department or manufacturer(s) how you
should dispose of the nonviable vaccine.
Transport vaccines properly
(and only when absolutely necessary)
Vaccine manufacturers generally do not recommend
or provide guidance for transport of vaccines. But
during an emergency, or if you host an offsite vacci-
nation clinic, you may need to transport vaccines
from one place to another. It is critical that you main-
tain and monitor the vaccine cold chain during
t
hese activities. (See special information for frozen
varicella-containing vaccines in the next paragraph.)
You will need at least one insulated container (see
Step 2: Setting Up for Vaccination Services) with a
thermom eter to place near the vaccine. Think of this
container as your clinic’s vaccine storage area in
miniature: you’ll need to monitor it with a temper-
ature log as well, just like you do when in the office.
CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit, avail-
able at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/
toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
, devotes several
pages to the topic of transporting vaccines.
Transporting frozen varicella-containing
vaccines to an offsite clinic location
Neither CDC nor the vaccine manufacturer recom-
mends transporting frozen varicella-containing
vaccines. But if these vaccines must be moved (for
example, during an emergency), they should be
transported in a portable freezer unit that maintains
the temperature range of -5to -1C (-58° to +5°F).
Port able freezer units may be available for rent
in some locations. But if frozen varicella-containing
vaccines must be transported and a portable freezer
unit is not available, do NOT use dry ice, as this
actually could allow the vaccines to become too cold.
This in turn could affect the vial seal and possibly
allow outside air to enter the vial. If frozen varicella-
containing vaccines are transported at refrigerated
temperatures (2° to 8°C [36° to 46°F]), they must be
discarded if they have not been used within 72 hours.
This chapter has covered the basic steps involved in
vaccine storage and handling for adult vaccines. Be
sure you print up the forms, establish policies, and
select someone in your office to be in charge of
vaccines. Now, let’s vaccinate!
step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling 35
Neither CDC nor the vaccine manufacturer
recommends transporting frozen varicella-
containing vaccines.
Health Departments
L
ocal Health Department phone State Health Department phone
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1
. Close the door tightly.
2.
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Valn eva
ō
www.immunize.org/
catg.d/p3051.pdf
cdc
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
36 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
Tools for Providers
Checklist for Safe Vaccine Storage and Handling
(IAC) www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3035.pdf
Do Not Turn Off Circuit Breaker – sign (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2091.pdf
Do Not Unplug sign (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2090.pdf
Don’t Be Guilty of These Preventable Errors
in Vaccine Storage and Handling! (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3036.pdf
Emergency Response Worksheet (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3051.pdf
Temperature Log for Freezer – Celsius (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3038C.pdf
Temperature Log for Freezer – Fahrenheit (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3038F.pdf
Temperature Log for Refrigerator – Celsius (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3037C.pdf
Temperature Log for Refrigerator – Fahrenheit (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3037F.pdf
Vaccine Handling Tips (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3048.pdf
Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3041.pdf
Vaccines with Diluents: How to Use Them (IAC)
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3040.pdf
Additional Provider Resources
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/
storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
Vaccine Storage and Handling Web Section (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/storage/default.htm
Vaccine Storage and Handling Web Section (IAC)
www.immunize.org/handouts/vaccine-storage-
handling.asp
General Information
Immunization Action Coalition (IAC)
www.immunize.org
note: The publisher of each resource is shown as an acronym
in the parentheses following the title. A key to these acronyms
is included in Appendix A: Acronyms and Abbreviations.
step
: vaccine storage and handling
Materials and Resources for You to Use
To access the current, ready-to-copy version of this toolkit, visit
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/
storage-handling-toolkit.pdf
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling 37
The
CDC Toolkit
is 82 pages in
length.
37
To access the current, ready-to-copy versions of these temperature logs, visit
www.immunize.org/handouts/temperature-logs.asp
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
38 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
Temperature Log for Refrigerator – Celsius
P
age 1 of 3
DAYS 1
15
M
onitor temperatures closely!
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ake action if temp is out of range – too warm (above 8ºC) or too cold (below 2ºC).
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Month
/
Year VFC PIN or other ID #
Facility Name
C
°
If you have a vaccine storage issue, also complete “Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record” found on page 3.
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anger! Temperatures above 8
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anger! Temperatures below 2
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dapted with appreciation from California Department of Public Health
distributed by the
Immunization Action Coalition
Sa int Pau l, Min neso ta
651
-
647
-
9009
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
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If you have a vaccine storage issue, also complete “Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record” found on page 3.
Temperature Log for Refrigerator – Fahrenheit
P
age 1 of 3
DAYS 1
15
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/
Year VFC PIN or other ID #
Facility Name
F
°
D
ay of Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Staff Initials
Exact Time
M
in/Max Temp
(since previous reading)
D
anger! T
e
mperatures above 46ºF are too warm! Write any out-of-range temps and room temp on the lines below and call your state or local health department immediately!
46
˚
F
45
˚
F
4
4
˚
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43
˚
F
42
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F
41
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37
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F
36
˚
F
D
anger! T
e
mperatures below 36ºF are too cold! Write any out-of-range temps and room temp on the lines below and call your state or local health department immediately!
Write any out-of-range
t
emps (above 46ºF
or below 36ºF) here:
Room Temperature
am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm am pm
acceptable temperatures
action
Ai m f or 40
º
Adapted with appreciation from California Department of Public Health
Immunization Action Coalition
Saint Paul, Minnesota
651
-
647
-
9009
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
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15ºC are too warm! Write any out-of-range temps and room temp on the lines below and call your state or local health department immediately!
-
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acceptable
temperatures
Temperature Log for Freezer – Celsius
3DJHRI
DAYS 1
15
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15ºC) or too cold (below
-
50ºC).
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onth
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Y
ear VFC PIN or other ID #
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°
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Sa int Pau l, Min neso ta
651
-
647
-
9009
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
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anger! Temperatures above 5
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Temperature Log for Freezer – Fahrenheit
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DAYS 1
15
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Take action if temp is out of range—too warm (above 5ºF) or too cold (below
-
58ºF).
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To access the current, ready-to-copy version of this piece, visit
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Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling 39
39
To access the current, ready-to-copy version of this piece, visit
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3036.pdf
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Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
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40 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
Do you see your clinic or practice making any of these
f
requently reported errors in vaccine storage and handling?
Although some of these errors are much more serious than
o
thers, none of them should occur. Be sure your healthcare
setting is not making any of these preventable errors.
error: Designating only one person, rather than at least
two, to be responsible for storage and handling of vaccines
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To access the current, ready-to-copy version of this piece, visit
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3048.pdf
Vaccine Handling Tips
remember: Improperly stored or outdated vaccines won’t protect your patients!
Maintain refrigerator
temperature between
2° and 8°C (36° and 46°F).
Aim for 5°C (40°F).
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oster
Maintain freezer
temperature between
-50° and -15°C
(-58° and 5°F).
Freezer Refrigerator
Manage vaccine inventories.
Inventory your vaccine supplies at least monthly and before
placing an order. Expired vaccine must never be used and
it becomes “cash in the trash!”
Always use the vaccine with the soonest expiration
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Move vaccine with the soonest expiration date to the front
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vaccine from the unit.
Store vaccine appropriately.
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receiving shipment. Keep vaccine vials in their original packag-
ing. Place vaccine in clearly labeled wire baskets or other open
containers with a 2–3" separation between baskets and 4"
from wall of unit. Separate or clearly mark vaccines to distin-
guish those that were supplied from your state’s Vaccines for
Children program (or other state-funded source) from those
that were privately purchased. Do not store vaccines in the
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Stabilize temperatures.
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refrigerator along with the vaccines. This will help maintain
a stable, cold temperature in case of a power failure or if the
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Safeguard the electrical supply to the refrigerator.
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in a protected area where they cannot be disconnected acciden-
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and circuit breakers on the power circuit with information that
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immediate steps to be taken in case of interruption of power.
If your building has auxiliary power, use the outlet supplied
by that system.
*
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ately place the vaccine in recommended storage, mark it “do not use,” and then
call your state health department or the vaccine manufacturer(s) to determine
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gency Response Worksheet” (ZZZLPPXQL]HRUJFDWJGSSGI).
Technical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Saint Paul, Minnesota
651
-
647
-
9009
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
ZZZLPPXQL]HRUJFDWJGSSGI ,WHP3 6)
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling 41
4
1
To access the current, ready-to-copy version of this piece, visit
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3041.pdf
Vaccinating Adults: A Step-by-Step Guide Immunization Action Coalition
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
42 step
3
: Vaccine Storage and Handling
Date & Time of Event
If multiple, related events occurred,
see Description of Event below.
Storage Unit Temperature
at the time the problem was discovered
Room Temperature
at the time the problem was discovered
Person Completing Report
When recording temperatures, indicate F (Fahrenheit) or C (Celsius).
Date: Temp when discovered: Temp when discovered: Name:
Time: Minimum temp: Maximum temp:
Comment (optional):
Title: Date:
Description of Event (If multiple, related events occurred, list each date, time, and length of time out of storage.)
 General description (i.e., what happened?)
 Estimated length of time between event and last documented reading of storage temperature in acceptable range (36
o
to 46
o
F [2° to 8°C] for refrigerator; -58º to 5ºF [-50° to -15°C] for freezer)
 Inventory of aected vaccines, including (1) lot #s and (2) whether purchased with public (for example, VFC) or private funds (Use separate sheet if needed, but maintain the inventory with this troubleshooting record)
 At the time of the event, what else was in the storage unit? For example, were there water bottles in the refrigerator and/or frozen coolant packs in the freezer?
 Prior to this event, have there been any storage problems with this unit and/or with the aected vaccine?
 Include any other information you feel might be relevant to understanding the event.
Action Taken (Document thoroughly. This information is critical to determining whether the vaccine might still be viable!)
 When were the aected vaccines placed in proper storage conditions? (Note: Do not discard the vaccine. Store exposed vaccine in proper conditions and label it “do not use” until after you can discuss with your state/
local health department and/or the manufacturer[s].)
 Who was contacted regarding the incident? (For example, supervisor, state/local health department, manufacturer—list all.)
 IMPORTANT: What did you do to prevent a similar problem from occurring in the future?
Results
 What happened to the vaccine? Was it able to be used? If not, was it returned to the distributor? (Note: For public-purchase vaccine, follow your state/local health department instructions for vaccine disposition.)
Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record (check one) □Refrigerator □Freezer
Use this form to document any unacceptable vaccine storage event, such as exposure of refrigerated or frozen vaccines to temperatures that are outside the manufacturers' recommended storage ranges.
d
istributed b
y
the
Immunization Action Coalition
Saint Paul, Minnesota
651
-
647
-
9009
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
T
echnical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3041.pdf
Item #P3041 (8
/
16)
Date & Time of Event
I
f multiple, related events occurred,
see Description of Event below.
Storage Unit Temperature
a
t the time the problem was discovered
Room Temperature
a
t the time the problem was discovered
Person Completing Report
Date: ȿȭɏȩɰOʝɦ Temp when discovered: 45ºF Temp when discovered: ʳºF Name: 1ʋQʎɨ1ʦUȿɏ
Time: ȿȭɏȩɰOʝɦ Minimum temp: 38ºF
Maximum temp: 53ºF
Comment (optional):
ɀʑʛɞLɡʋSʠUʝɧ
Title: 9)&&RʝUʏʖQDWʝɠ Date: 6/24/13
Results
 What happened to the vaccine? Was it able to be used? If not, was it returned to the distributor? (Note: For public-purchase vaccine, follow your state/local health department instructions for vaccine disposition.)
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Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Record (check one) □Refrigerator □Freezer
Use this form to document any unacceptable vaccine storage event, such as exposure of refrigerated vaccines to temperatures that are outside the manufacturers' recommended storage ranges.
A llable troubleshooting record (i.e., editable pdf) can also be found at www.immunize.org/clinic/storage-handling.asp
Example
Description of Event (If multiple, related events occurred, list each date, time, and length of time out of storage.)
 General description (i.e., what happened?)
 Estimated length of time between event & last documented reading of storage temperature in acceptable range (36
o
to 46
o
F [2
o
to 8
o
C] for refrigerator; -58º to 5ºF [-50
o
to -15
o
C] for freezer)
 Inventory of aected vaccines, including (1) lot #s and (2) whether purchased with public (for example, VFC) or private funds (Use separate sheet if needed, but maintain the inventory with this troubleshooting record)
 At the time of the event, what else was in the storage unit? For example, were there water bottles in the refrigerator and/or frozen coolant packs in the freezer?
 Prior to this event, have there been any storage problems with this unit and/or with the aected vaccine?
 Include any other information you feel might be relevant to understanding the event.
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9DFʎʖȸɏWɛȾʑPʋʖɚʡXʋUʋQʤʖȸHɍʦQʤɵɗɄɏȱHʋɠEDɭɖʓUʝə9LFWʝɠ
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3OʋɚWɛIɼɸOʝɦʦɞʨLʃɓ,Pʛʦʜɔ]DʤLʝɚ3URʔUʋəʝɚGDWɈORJȰʑUɡʨLʃɓɪOʋʢPɡʃKDɢFʝʅOɍȩɏȿʑQɢWɛFRʝUʏʖQDWʝɠʋQɍEDɭɖʦɞɿKʝȸHɡ
Action Taken (Document thoroughly. This information is critical to determining whether the vaccine might still be viable!)
 When were the aected vaccines placed in proper storage conditions? (Note: Do not discard the vaccine. Store exposed vaccine in proper conditions and label it “do not use” until after you can discuss with your
state/local health department and/or the manufacturer[s].)
 Who was contacted regarding the incident? (For example, supervisor, state/local health department, manufacturer—list all.)
 IMPORTANT: What did you do to prevent a similar problem from occurring in the future?
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ɄȭɰȴʑQɍPʋɨKʋɃɏɈՔHFɀHɍSʝɄʑɠ
distributed by the
Immunization Action Coalition
Saint Paul, Minnesota
651
-
647
-
9009
www.immunize.org
www.vaccineinformation.org
Technical content reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3041.pdf
Item #P3041 (8
/
16)
The form includes
6 filled-in
example pages.
4
2