Public Health Agency of Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Share this page

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

National Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines for Immunization Providers
PDF Version
PDF version
106 Pages - 1,12 MB
Cat.: HP40-17/2007E-PDF
ISBN - 978-0-662-45807-4

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

i    Background
ii.  Introduction
iii. Disclaimer

Section 1 Cold Chain

1.1 The Cold Chain
1.2 The Shake Test
1.3 References

Section 2 Vaccine Storage and Handling Protocols

2.1 General Recommendations
2.2 Routine Vaccine Storage and Handling Protocols
2.3 Training Personnel
2.4 Urgent Vaccine Storage and Handling Protocols
2.5 Emergency Actions
2.6 Mass Immunization Plans (including Pandemic)
2.7 References

Section 3 Vaccine Storage Equipment

3.1 General Requirements
3.2 Back up Equipment
3.3 Routine Equipment Maintenance Logbooks
3.4 Refrigerators and Freezers
3.5 Refrigerators and Freezer Maintenance
3.6 Thermometers and Temperature Monitors
3.7 Thermometer Maintenance
3.8 Cold Chain Monitors
3.9 Vaccine Security
3.10 References

Section 4 Vaccine Storage Practices

4.1 Appropriate Vaccine and Diluent Storage Conditions
4.2 Organizing Your Refrigerator and Freezer
4.3 Organizing Vaccine Inventory
4.4 Storage Containers
4.5 Storage of Non-Vaccine Products
4.6 References

Section 5 Temperature Monitoring

5.1 Checking and Recording Temperatures
5.2 Reviewing Temperature Logs
5.3 Noting Equipment Failures and Room Temperatures
5.4 Maintaining Temperature Logs
5.5 Using Alarm Systems

Section 6 Storage Troubleshooting

6.1 Steps in Handling Inappropriate Vaccine Storage Conditions (Light and Temperature)
6.2 Dealing with Malfunctioning Vaccine Storage Units
6.3 Refrigerator and Freezer Door Problems
6.4 Thermometer Problems
6.5 Power Outages
6.6 References

Section 7 Stability Guidelines and Resources

7.1 Stability Guidelines and Resources
7.2 A Word of Caution
7.3 References

Section 8 Vaccine Management

8.1 Vaccine Management
8.2 Expiration Dates
8.3 Inventory Management

Section 9 Vaccine Shipments

9.1 Standard Operating Procedures
9.2 Receiving and Unpacking Vaccine Shipments
9.3 Transporting Vaccine to Off-site Clinics
9.4 Maintaining Temperature During Off-site Clinics
9.5 References

Resources Included