National Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines for Immunization Providers (2007)

Introduction

Contents

i    Background
ii.  Introduction
iii. Disclaimer

I. Background

The Canadian Nursing Coalition for Immunization (CNCI) is a partnership of senior public health nurse administrators/ managers/ epidemiologists from all provinces and territories, as well as representatives from the Department of National Defence (DND), First Nations Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and vaccine industry. This coalition is specifically interested in enhancing the protection of Canadians from vaccine preventable diseases.

In 2005, CNCI identified a need for a national best practices document on cold chain management at the provider level. Currently only a few jurisdictions have guidelines, and the consistency and completeness of these documents are unknown. National guidelines were last updated more than 10 years ago. Through CNCI, a working group on cold chain management was established in December 2005. Representatives from the following groups participated in the working group: provinces and territories, vaccine industry, DND, Vaccine Supply Working Group, FNIHB, and PHAC.

II. Introduction

Immunization programs have had a major impact on the health status of the world population, by preventing many cases of infectious disease through immunization. Efficient vaccine storage and handling is a key component of immunization programs. It is a shared responsibility from the time the vaccine is manufactured until it is administered. The majority of vaccine storage and handling mistakes are easily avoidable.

The objectives of these guidelines are to provide recommendations for vaccine storage and handling for healthcare providers. Specific recommendations for vaccine storage and handling procedures may vary among public health offices and immunization programs, therefore, these guidelines are meant to supplement existing policies rather than replace them. If you need clarification on any process, consult your local public health office or immunization program*.

These guidelines were developed based on feasibility, available evidence base, and consistency in practice. An environmental scan was done to collect and review provincial, territorial, national, and international cold chain guidelines and/or policy statements. Standard criteria were developed and used to evaluate the current guidelines.

The content of the guidelines include general recommendations for:

• Routine and urgent storage and handling protocols
• Vaccine storage equipment and maintenance
• Temperature monitoring
• Storage troubleshooting
• Stability guideline resources
• Vaccine management
• Vaccine shipment

A Resource Section with sample templates and checklists has been included with these guidelines. You may use them as they are or revise them to suit your jurisdiction.

III. Disclaimer

Reference to trade names and commercial sources or manufacturers are for identification only, and do not imply endorsement by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Photographs and resources from organizations and manufacturers found in these guidelines are provided solely as a service to our users and are not endorsements of these organizations by PHAC. The Public Health Agency of Canada is not responsible for the contents of the organizations' Web pages.

We would like to thank the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, National Immunization Program, for providing access to use their “Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.”

Strengthen Cold Chain Links By: Maintaining routine and urgent vaccine storage and handling protocols Storing vaccines in a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator Knowing your refrigerator Performing routine equipment maintenance Knowing how to handle inappropriate vaccine storage conditions Developing qualified practices in transporting vaccines to off-site clinics and monitoring temperatures at off-site clinics

*Including local, regional, provincial, territorial, or federal health departments, or other jurisdictional immunization programs.