| Storage and Handling |
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This section does
not address the special storage and handling
conditions for the frozen mRNA COVID-19
vaccines; please see the COVID-19 section of
Ask the Experts (www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_cov.asp)
and our Vaccines: COVID-19 main page (www.immunize.org/covid-19)
for questions and answers about the storage
and handling of these vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) provides comprehensive information about
vaccine storage and handling in their Storage
and Handling Toolkit, available at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf.
The toolkit was revised in 2021 with an
addendum addressing COVID-19 vaccines. |
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| Vaccine Storage Units |
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| When is a
"dormitory style" refrigerator considered
adequate for storing vaccines? |
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| Never!
Dormitory-style (bar-style) units pose a
significant risk of freezing vaccine even when
used only for temporary storage. During
testing, dormitory-style refrigerators
demonstrated consistently unacceptable
performance, regardless of where the vaccine
was placed inside the unit. The use of
dormitory-style refrigerators is specifically
prohibited for storage of VFC vaccines or
other vaccines purchased with public funds. |
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| We have a
small office with limited space for a vaccine
storage unit. If dormitory-style refrigerators
are not an option, what can we use? |
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| A
"dormitory-style" refrigerator is a small
combination refrigerator/freezer unit that is
outfitted with one exterior door and an
evaporator plate (cooling coil), which is
usually located inside an icemaker compartment
(freezer) within the refrigerator. This type
of unit has severe temperature control and
stability issues. However, compact "purpose
built" or "pharmacy grade" refrigerators and
freezers that have been engineered to maintain
even temperatures throughout the unit are
available, and these may meet the needs of a
small office. In general, the unit must be
large enough to store the year's largest
vaccine inventory without crowding and to
store water bottles (in a refrigerator) and
frozen coolant packs (in a freezer) to
minimize temperatures fluctuations. |
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| Our office is
committed to assuring appropriate storage for
our vaccines. Do we need a stand-alone
refrigerator and freezer, or is a combination
unit adequate? |
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| Stand-alone units
that only refrigerate or only freeze are
recommended by CDC. Combination
refrigerator/freezer units are less capable of
simultaneously maintaining proper storage
temperatures in both compartments. In
addition, some areas of the refrigerator space
may also be unusable due to uneven
temperatures in the refrigerator section
interior. If a combination
refrigerator/freezer must be used, only
refrigerated vaccines should be stored in the
unit: a separate stand-alone freezer should be
used if the clinic also provides frozen
vaccines. Stand-alone units can vary in size
from compact, under-the-counter (not
dormitory) style to large, stand-alone,
pharmaceutical grade units. For additional
information see the CDC Storage and Handling
Toolkit, page 8, at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
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| There is a
vent in our combination refrigerator/freezer
that brings in cold air from the freezer.
Vaccines stored near this vent are colder to
the touch. Could
this be a problem? |
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| Yes. Vaccines
that are stored in the refrigerator portion of
a combination refrigerator/freezer should be
moved away from the vent located in the
refrigerator compartment. The cold air from
the freezer is circulated into the refrigerator compartment to cool it, which can
cause your vaccines to freeze.
Inactivated vaccines must be kept between 2°
and 8°C (between 36° and 46°F) and not frozen. |
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| Is the top
shelf of a pharmacy-grade storage unit
acceptable for vaccine storage if there is a
fan directly above it? |
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| Generally
speaking, CDC recommends avoiding the top
shelf and the areas near vents due to
temperature fluctuations. However, most
pharmaceutical-grade units use a fan to circulate air within
the storage area and create more uniform
temperatures than household units. During a
power outage, the top
shelf is an area of caution for all units as
the temperatures increase most quickly there.
In this instance, it would be best to check
with the manufacturer or
owner's manual to see if the top shelf is
appropriate for storage in your unit. |
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| Since I am no
longer storing frozen vaccines in the freezer
portion of my combination
refrigerator/freezer, should I just turn off
the freezer portion of the
unit? |
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| No. If you turn
off the freezer portion of a combination
refrigerator/freezer, the refrigerated
compartment will not maintain the proper
temperature. |
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| We have a
large quantity of vaccines, and space is
always an issue. Since you cannot put vaccines
in the vegetable bins, can we remove them and
then
put vaccines in that space? |
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| Vaccines should
not be stored in vegetable bins or the space
occupied by vegetable bins of a
household-style refrigerator. This area is
commonly closer to
the motor of the unit and the temperature is
different from that in the body of the
refrigerator. We recommend that you remove the
vegetable bins and put
bottles of water in that space to help
maintain a constant temperature in your
refrigerator. Vaccines should be placed in the
center of the refrigerator, away
from the walls and floor of the unit in open
containers so air can circulate around the
vaccines. If using the refrigerator section of
a combination
refrigerator/freezer unit, you do not want the
top storage shelf in the refrigerator to be
too close to the vent that comes from the
freezer because this can
expose your vaccines to freezing temperatures. |
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| Can we store
vaccine in the same unit where we store
employees' lunches? |
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| No, don't use the
same unit. Frequent opening of the
refrigerator door to retrieve food items can
adversely affect the internal temperature of
the unit and
potentially damage the vaccines. |
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| Our office is
small and we only store vaccine in the
refrigerator of a combination
refrigerator/freezer. Can we use the freezer
portion to store staff food? |
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| CDC recommends
using separate refrigerator and freezer units
for vaccine storage, but still allows use of a combination refrigerator/freezer if you only
use the refrigerator portion for storing
vaccines (as you are doing). CDC also
recommends that you store food and beverages
in a separate storage unit
from vaccines, which you are technically doing
but there may still be an impact on the
refrigerator temperature by the opening and
closing of the freezer
door by staff. (In most two-compartment units,
cold air from the freezer is circulated for
cooling the refrigerator.) |
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| The
ideal situation would be to get a stand-alone
pharmaceutical/purpose-built refrigerator unit
for your vaccines, and use your
refrigerator/freezer
combination unit for your food and drinks. For
more information about storage unit features
and recommendations, refer to pages 8 and 29
of the CDC
Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit available
at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
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| Is it okay to
store medications and other biologic products
in the same unit as vaccines? |
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| CDC's Vaccine
Storage and Handling Toolkit states that if
other medications and biological products must
be stored in the same unit as vaccines, they
must be clearly marked and stored in separate
containers or bins from vaccines. Potentially
contaminated items (e.g., blood, urine) should
be properly
contained and stored below vaccines due to
risk of contamination from drips or leaks. The
freezer of a household-grade unit may be used
for non-vaccine, medical storage, so long as the use
does not compromise the temperature range
within the refrigerator compartment where
vaccine is stored. |
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| Can you please
guide me in finding storage containers and
bins for vaccines? |
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| CDC recommends
the use of bins, baskets, or some other type
of uncovered containers that allow for
organization and air circulation for vaccines
and
diluents within the storage unit. Storage in
boxes or bins can help maintain temperature
longer, especially if power is lost.
Perforated bins may allow for
better air circulation around the vaccine,
thus helping to maintain correct temperature. |
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| CDC does not have
a specific recommendation for brands of
containers or bins for storage of vaccine. We recommend that you contact your state
immunization program, as they may have
suggestions for purchasing this equipment. If
you are a Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
provider, you
should contact your immunization program to
ensure that you are in compliance with VFC
policy. |
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| What type of
device should be used for measuring
temperatures in a vaccine storage unit? What
types of temperature monitoring devices should
NOT be
used for this purpose? |
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| Every vaccine
storage unit must have a temperature
monitoring device (TMD). CDC recommends that
vaccines be monitored using a "digital data
logger"
(DDL). A DDL provides the most accurate
storage unit temperature information,
including a detailed record of how long a unit
has been operating outside
the recommended temperature range (referred to
as a "temperature excursion"). Unlike a simple
minimum/maximum thermometer, which only shows
the
coldest and warmest temperatures reached in a
unit, a DDL provides a log of the temperature
recorded at preset intervals (at least every
30 minutes is
recommended). |
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Many DDLs use a buffered temperature probe,
which is the most accurate way to measure
actual vaccine temperatures. Temperatures
measured by a
buffered probe match vaccine temperatures more
closely than those measured by standard
thermometers, which tend to reflect only air
temperature.
Temperature data from a DDL can either be
downloaded to a computer using special
software or retrieved from a website. The
software or website may
also allow you to set the frequency of
temperature readings. Reviewing DDL data
regularly is critical to ensure temperature
excursions that could damage
vaccines do not go on without being addressed.
It is important to decide whether independent
software or a website program works best for
your facility. |
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Temperature monitoring devices that are NOT
recommended include alcohol or mercury
thermometers, even if placed in a
fluid-filled, biosafe, liquid vial;
bimetal stem devices; devices used for food;
chart recorders; infrared devices; and devices
that do not have a current and valid
Certificate of Calibration
Testing (see next question). Please note that
some devices sold in hardware and appliance
stores are designed to monitor temperatures
for household food
storage. They are not calibrated and not
accurate enough to ensure vaccines are stored
within the correct temperature range. Using
these devices can
pose a significant risk of damaging vaccines. |
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| More
details on temperature monitoring are
available on pages 9–10 of CDC Vaccine Storage
and Handling Toolkit, available at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
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| What is a
certificate of calibration testing? |
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| CDC recommends
that you use only a temperature monitoring
device (TMD) with a Certificate of Calibration Testing (also known as a Report of
Calibration). This certificate provides the
TMD's level of accuracy compared to a
recognized standard. This certificate comes
with the TMD when it is
purchased, and it is different than the manufacturer's warranty. While all TMDs are
calibrated during manufacturing, certified
calibrated TMDs undergo a
second individual calibration against a
reference standard from an accredited testing
laboratory. Additional information on this
topic is available on page 10
of CDC's Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit,
available at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
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| Why does the
temperature probe of a temperature monitoring
device (TMD) need to be suspended in a buffer?
Won't it work just as well if it is measuring
air temperature? |
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| A buffered
temperature probe is designed to prevent
misleading and rapidly fluctuating readings by
protecting the TMD from sudden changes in air
temperature that can occur when opening a
refrigerator door. A probe is "buffered" by
immersing it in a vial filled with liquid
(e.g., glycol, ethanol,
glycerin), loose media (e.g., sand, glass
beads), or a solid block of material such as
Teflon or aluminum. Vaccine packaging is more thermostable than air
because the temperature of solids and fluids
change more slowly than air. Standard probes
that measure air temperature can fluctuate
with the defrost
cycles of the unit, frequent opening and
closing the door on busy workdays, air
circulation patterns, etc. This could lead
someone to inaccurately interpret
changes in air temperature to mean that the
vaccine temperature was out of range. |
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| How long
should we monitor the temperature in a new
refrigerator before storing vaccines in it? |
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| It may take 2 to
7 days to stabilize the temperature in a newly
installed or repaired refrigerator or 2 to 3
days for a freezer. Before using a unit for
vaccine
storage, check and record the minimum and
maximum temperatures each workday for two to
seven days. If temperatures cannot be recorded
using a
digital data logger, check and record temperatures a minimum of two times each
workday. Once you have two consecutive days of
temperatures recorded
within the recommended range, your unit is
stable and ready for use. Recommended
temperatures are between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and
46°F) for the
refrigerator and between -50°C and -15°C
(-58°F and +5°F) for the freezer. |
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| How often
should temperatures be checked and recorded on
our vaccine storage unit's log? |
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| Check and record
storage unit minimum and maximum temperatures
at the start of each workday. This is a requirement for VFC providers. The minimum
and maximum temperatures recorded should be
those obtained since the last workday when the
minimum and maximum temperatures were reset.
If your
device does not display minimum and maximum
temperatures, then check and record the
current temperature a minimum of 2 times (at the start and end
of the workday). This should be done even if
there is a temperature alarm. |
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| Why should I
record the temperature of the room where the
vaccine storage unit is located? |
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| If the vaccine
cold chain is broken, the ambient room
temperature is useful information in helping
determine how to handle the compromised
vaccine. Do
not remove the calibrated thermometer from the
refrigerator or freezer to measure the room
temperature. A standard household thermometer
in the room is
fine for this purpose. |
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How long do we need to keep our
refrigerator/freezer temperature tracking
logs? |
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| CDC recommends
that refrigerator and freezer temperature logs
be kept for at least 3 years. See page 9 of
the Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit,
available at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf.
The reasoning is that it is useful to be able
to look back at
the record to help determine if a unit is
developing a problem. |
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| Individual state
Vaccines For Children (VFC) programs may have
additional requirements for retaining temperature logs. You should contact your
state
program for this information. Contact
information for state immunization programs is
available at
www.immunize.org/coordinators. |
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| Please provide
guidance for transporting our vaccine to an
off-site location. |
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| Vaccines from
your supply should not be routinely
transported. In instances where the transport
of vaccine from your supply is necessary, take
appropriate precautions to protect your
supply. Vaccines should only be transported
using appropriate packing materials that
provide the maximum protection. CDC provides
detailed guidance on the transport of vaccines
in the Storage and Handling Toolkit, pages 21–24
at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
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| We use a
digital data logger and are carefully logging
our vaccine storage unit's temperatures each
day. Is there anything else that could go
wrong? |
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| Congratulations
on your hard work! You would be surprised at
the number of people who, just like you, do a careful job of recording temperatures, but
then
they fail to act on them when the temperatures
go out of range. Always take immediate action
when you notice an out-of-range temperature.
You may need
to move the vaccines temporarily to a more
reliable storage unit and determine the source
of the problem. It may be something quite fixable (e.g.,
excessive lint or dust on the coils), and you
will be back in business after you determine
that the temperature is back in range after a
few hours. |
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| Above
all, don't chart an out-of-range temperature
and not act on it! IAC has created temperature
recording logs and a troubleshooting record to
document unacceptable vaccine storage events.
The CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit contains
detailed guidance on the management of a
temperature excursion. See pages 12–15 at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
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| One morning,
our refrigerator temperature monitoring device
registered 32° F. The vaccine didn't look frozen so we kept using it. Was this okay? |
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| No. If you find
that a vaccine has been exposed to an
inappropriate temperature, try to determine
the reason for the temperature excursion, mark
the
vaccine "Do Not Use," and contact the
manufacturer or the state or local health department to determine if the vaccine can be
used. |
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| Do
not leave vaccines in a storage unit that does
not maintain temperatures within the
recommended range. If you are unable to
stabilize the temperature
in your unit within the required range, or
temperatures in the unit are consistently at
the extreme high or low end of the range,
identify an alternative unit
with appropriate temperatures and sufficient
storage space until the primary unit can be
repaired or replaced. |
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| What should I
do if my temperature monitoring device
indicates my refrigerated vaccine has been
stored between 32° and 34°F? Since the vaccine
wasn't
"frozen," will it be OK to use? And what about
people who received the vaccine before we
discovered the temperature excursion—will we
need to
revaccinate them? |
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| This is a complex
question that requires case-by-case review.
First, while you're assessing the situation,
return the vaccine to proper storage
temperatures
and mark it "Do Not Use." Then, contact your
state or local immunization program or the
appropriate vaccine manufacturer(s) to discuss
the potential
usability of the vaccine. They will need to
consider several variables related to vaccine
storage conditions. For example, their
guidance will be affected by
the type and accuracy of the temperature
monitoring device, whether the temperature
probe was in a liquid or was reading the
temperature of the air, the
type of vaccine involved, the length of time
of the excursion, etc. |
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| In
general, if it can be reliably determined that
the vaccine in question was not stored below
32°F and the manufacturer's stability data
concurs, most
immunization programs and vaccine
manufacturers would not recommend wasting the
vaccine or revaccinating recipients. |
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| For an
extended period, the temperature in the
vaccine-storage refrigerator in our practice
was too cold. We assume all the vaccines given
during that
period are considered invalid. How should we
schedule the revaccinations? |
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| If administered
vaccine is found to be stored at an
inappropriate temperature, whether too cold or
too warm, the provider should contact the
state health
department to determine if the vaccine dose is
invalid. If the vaccine dose is determined to
be invalid, another dose should be given. This
applies to both
inactivated and live vaccines. If the damaged
vaccine was a live virus vaccine (e.g., MMR,
MMRV, VAR), you should wait at least 4 weeks
after the
previous (damaged) dose was given before
repeating it. If the damaged vaccine was an
inactivated vaccine, you can give the repeat
dose on the same
day you gave the damaged dose or at any other
time. If you prefer, you can perform serologic
testing to check for immunity for certain
vaccinations (e.g.,
measles, rubella, hepatitis A, diphtheria,
varicella, and tetanus). |
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| How long can
reconstituted MMR vaccine be stored in a
refrigerator before it must be discarded? |
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The amount of time in
which a dose of vaccine must be used after
reconstitution varies by vaccine and is
usually outlined in the vaccine's package
insert.
MMR must be used within 8 hours of
reconstitution. MMRV must be used within 30
minutes; other vaccines must be used
immediately. The Immunization
Action Coalition has a staff education piece
that outlines the time allowed between
reconstitution and use, as stated in the
package inserts for a number of
vaccines. This handout can be found at the
following link:
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3040.pdf. |
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| What is a
temperature excursion? |
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| Any temperature
reading outside the recommended range for
vaccine storage is a temperature excursion. However, it is generally the total amount of
time,
or cumulative time, out of range that affects
the viability of vaccine. Any time appropriate
vaccine storage temperatures are in question,
stop giving
vaccinations and contact your state
immunization program and/or the vaccine
manufacturer for further guidance about
whether or not a vaccine may be
used. The CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit
contains detailed guidance on the management
of a temperature excursion. See
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf,
pages 12–15. |
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| How long is a
vaccine viable if it has been stored in the
refrigerator in a syringe? |
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| Disposable
syringes are meant for administration of
immunobiologics, not for storage. CDC
recommends that vaccines that have been drawn
into syringes
by the provider be discarded at the end of the
clinic day if unused. Manufacturer-filled
syringes that have not been activated (i.e.,
have not had the needle
guard removed or a needle attached) may be
kept and used until their expiration date. |
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| What are the
CDC guidelines regarding use of multiple dose
vaccine vials? |
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| Vaccines in
multidose vials (MDVs) that do not require
reconstitution can be used through the
expiration date printed on the label as long
as the vaccine is
not contaminated unless indicated otherwise by
the manufacturer. For example, inactivated
polio vaccine in an MDV can be used through
the expiration
date on the vial. For some vaccines, the
manufacturer specifies that once the MDV has
been entered or the rubber stopper punctured,
the vaccine must
be used within a certain number of days. This
is commonly referred to as the "beyond-use
date" (BUD). Any vaccine not used within the
BUD should be
discarded. Specific information regarding the
BUD can be found in the product information.
For example, the package insert for some
inactivated
influenza vaccine indicates once the stopper
of the MDV has been pierced, the vial must be
discarded within 28 days. Package inserts for vaccines can
be found at
www.immunize.org/fda. |
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| When removing
doses from a multidose vial we can sometimes
get an extra dose beyond what the manufacturer
says is in the vial. Can we continue to
remove doses from the vial until it is empty? |
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| No. Only the
number of doses indicated in the
manufacturer's package insert should be
withdrawn from the vial. For some vaccines,
the package insert
also may indicate the maximum recommended
number of punctures of the vial stopper. After
the maximum number of doses has been withdrawn
or the
number of punctures of the stopper has met the
recommended limit, the vial should be
discarded, even if there is vaccine remaining
in the vial and the
expiration date has not been reached. |
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| When the
expiration date of a vaccine indicates a month
and year, does the vaccine expire on the first
or last day of the month? |
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| Vaccine may be
used through the last day of the month
indicated on the expiration date. After that,
do not use it. Monitor your vaccine supply
carefully so
that vaccines do not expire. |
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| I'm confused
about how to correctly interpret expiration
dates on vaccines. |
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| The
expiration date is the date by which the
vaccine should be used. Vaccines may be used
up to and including this date unless otherwise
stated in the
manufacturer's product information. The
expiration date is based on the assumption
that the vaccine has been properly handled and
that it has not become
contaminated. |
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| Some
vaccines expire within a certain time after
opening or after reconstitution. Multidose
vials that contain bacteriostatic agents that
prevent the growth of
bacteria and may be used until the expiration
date printed on the vial unless they become
contaminated. Single-dose vials and
manufacturer-filled syringes
do not contain bacteriostatic agents. Once the
cap has been removed or the sterile seal has
been broken on these vaccines, they should be
administered.
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) vaccine must be
used within a specified time frame after it
has been reconstituted. You may find IAC's
educational piece titled
Vaccines with Diluents: How to Use Them
helpful. It's available at
www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3040.pdf. |
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| What should I
do with expired vaccines? |
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| First
and foremost rotate your vaccine supply so
expensive vaccine does not expire in your
refrigerator. If you discover expired vaccine,
remove it from
the refrigerator or freezer so that it is not
inadvertently given to a patient. Expired
vaccines and diluents should NEVER be
administered, even if it is only 1
day past the expiration date. Contact your
immunization program, vaccine supplier, or
vaccine manufacturer for specific policies
about disposing expired
vaccines. |
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| Is it
acceptable to write the expiration date (the
"Beyond Use Date") of an opened vaccine
multidose vial on the box rather than the vial
or must it be written
on the vial? |
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| It is acceptable
to put the Beyond Use Date (BUD) on the
packaging; this may help when reviewing
inventory. But a provider should always read
the label
on the vial before administering a vaccine. It
is possible for a vial to be placed in the
wrong box. So the vial label is the safest
place to put the BUD. Vial
labels are small and it may require putting an
extra sticky label on the vial. |
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| What should we
do if a dose of expired vaccine is given to a
patient? |
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| The dose should
be repeated. If the error was detected on the
same clinic day, you can repeat the dose that
day. If the error is detected more than one
day later and if the expired dose is a live
virus vaccine, you must wait at least 28 days
after the previous (expired) dose was given
before repeating it. If
the expired dose is not a live vaccine, the
dose should be repeated as soon as possible.
An exception to this is for recombinant zoster
vaccine (Shingrix,
GlaxoSmithKline); the repeat dose should be
given 4 weeks after the invalid dose. If you
prefer, you can perform serologic testing to
check for immunity
for certain vaccinations (e.g., measles,
rubella, hepatitis A, diphtheria, varicella,
and tetanus). |
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| Some
manufacturers' package inserts state that a
vaccine should be used immediately after reconstitution. In the context of
reconstitution and
administration of vaccines, how does CDC
define "immediately"? |
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| There
are various requirements for the use of
vaccines after reconstitution. Some
manufacturers' package inserts require that
the vaccine be used or
discarded in varying time frames ranging from
24 hours after reconstitution to immediately
after reconstitution. While the specific
timeframes are simple to
interpret, there can be some confusion as to
what the requirement of "immediately" actually
means. |
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| CDC
considers "immediately" to be the reasonable
time it takes to prepare and transport the
vaccine to the patient to be administered.
This would include
any limited documentation that may be related
to this process. It is up to the judgment of a
provider to determine if a vaccine has not
been used in the
appropriate time. Some manufacturers have
indicated to providers that "immediately" can
be up to 30 minutes. The definition of "immediately" varies from
manufacturer to manufacturer. Some do not have
the data to put forth a general timeframe as
to what "immediately" means. CDC recommends
that the
provider contact the manufacturer if any question arises about whether or not a vaccine
dose has been used in the appropriate
timeframe. |
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| Where can I
get the most up-to-date information about
vaccine storage and handling? |
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| CDC publishes and
routinely updates a comprehensive Vaccine
Storage and Handling Toolkit covering topics such as vaccine storage units, temperature
monitoring devices, and inventory management,
vaccine transport and emergency vaccine
storage and handling. The toolkit also
contains troubleshooting
guides to assist with vaccine storage unit
issues or temperature excursions. This
terrific resource is available online at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf. |
|
| In
addition, IAC maintains many free,
downloadable materials at
www.immunize.org/handouts/vaccine-storage-handling.asp. |
|
| Our clinic
needs to buy new equipment to be in compliance
with these updated recommendations. How do we
know what are the best products to
purchase? |
|
| The CDC Storage
and Handling Toolkit, available at
www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/admin/storage/toolkit/storage-handling-toolkit.pdf,
contains information about recommended
features to look for when selecting a temperature monitoring device or storage unit.
If you store Vaccines for
Children (VFC) or other federally-purchased
vaccines, you may contact your state
immunization manager or Vaccines for Children
(VFC) coordinator for
additional information on their
recommendations or requirements. Contact
information can be found here:
www.immunize.org/coordinators. |
|
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ACIP Recommendations
Vaccine Information Statements 
