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Vaccine Storage and Handling

The best way to protect vaccine quality is to follow proper vaccine storage and handling specifications. It saves the cost of replacing valuable vaccines and makes sure viable vaccine is available to protect kids from vaccine-preventable diseases. This page contains resources to help providers understand and follow proper vaccine storage and handling practices.

• Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines and Forms
• Emergency Back-up Plans and Preparation
• Vaccine Storage and Handling Resources

• Vaccine Storage Temperature Monitoring Guidelines (PDF, 98KB) Please follow these required minimum guideline standards for monitoring the storage temperature of publicly-supplied vaccines. (May 2011)
• Alarmed Electronic Vaccine Temperature Monitoring Guidelines (PDF, 106KB) Please follow these required minimum guideline standards for the use of alarmed and electronic temperature monitoring systems for monitoring the storage temperature of publicly-supplied vaccines. (May 2011)
• Dormitory Style Refrigerator Replacement Protocol for Vaccine Storage (PDF, 38KB) Beginning in 2009, providers participating in the Washington Childhood Vaccine Program must not use dormitory style refrigerators for storing state-supplied vaccine. (Jan. 1, 2009)
• Definition of Dormitory-Style Refrigerators (PDF, 80KB) Excerpt from the 2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) storage and handling toolkit. (Jan. 1, 2009)
• Vaccine Incident Reporting. Use this form to report all incidents resulting in state-supplied vaccine being expired, spoiled, wasted, or transferred vaccines, and to record expired or spoiled vaccine returns.
  • Vaccine Incident Report Form (Word, 142KB) Use this form to report all vaccine incidents to the provider’s local health jurisdiction. (Feb. 25, 2010)
  • Guidelines and Instructions for completing Vaccine Incident Report Form (Word, 78KB) Feb. 5, 2010
• Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Return Form for the 2011-2012 season (Word, 133KB) June 30, 2011
• Varicella/MMRV Provider Certification (PDF, 169KB)
• Temperature Monitoring Log (PDF, 284KB)
• Vaccine Accountability and Management Business Rules and Guidelines (PDF, 138KB) Dec. 2010
• Economic Order Quantity

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It's critical for every provider to have a written emergency back-up plan for vaccine storage in the event of a power-outage or refrigerator or freezer failure.

• Review your emergency back-up plan and make sure all aspects of it are in order (for example, back-up generator is in good working order, there is enough storage space at the alternate storage facility, there are packing materials for vaccine transport, etc.).
• Train your staff on the emergency back-up plan and be ready to implement the plan if needed.
• Keep the emergency back-up plan near or on the vaccine storage unit(s) and make it easily accessible to staff.

Useful links:

• Guidance on the Impact of Power outages on Vaccine Storage (CDC)
• Emergency Procedures for Protecting Vaccine Inventories (CDC)
• Emergency Vaccine Retrieval and Storage Plan. Excerpt from the CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit. (CDC)
• Checklist of Resources for the Emergency Vaccine Retrieval and Storage Plan (PDF, 224KB) CDC worksheet template for an emergency vaccine retrieval and storage plan.
• Emergency Response Worksheet (PDF, 61KB) Immunization Action Coalition worksheet for what to do in case of a power failure or another event that results in vaccine storage outside of the recommended temperature range.
• Natural Disasters and Severe Weather General information on how to prepare and respond to natural disasters and severe weather. (CDC)

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• Checklist for Safe Vaccine Handling and Storage (Immunization Action Coalition) (PDF, 48KB) Oct. 2008. The 20 most important things you can do to safeguard your vaccine supply.
• A Provider's Guide: State-Supplied Vaccine Distribution in Washington (PDF, 513KB) Feb. 2011
• Reception Area Flier: Receiving Vaccines Check List (PDF, 840KB)
• Setting and Stabilizing the Temperature for Vaccine Storage Equipment (PDF, 134KB) Excerpt from the 2008 CDC storage and handling toolkit. (Jan. 1, 2009)
• Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit. This toolkit from the CDC is currently being updated. It gives general guidelines for correct vaccine storage and handling.
• Vaccine Storage and Handling Flyer (PDF, 82KB) Nov. 2008
• Vaccine Storage Thermometer Fact Sheet (PDF, 218KB) Sept. 2011
• ColdMark Freeze Indicator for vaccines exposed to freezing temperatures (PDF, 110KB)
• 3M MonitorMark Time Temperature Indicator for vaccines exposed to too warm temperatures (PDF, 120KB)
• New Vaccine Packing List Sample (PDF, 15KB) June 21, 2011

Download and print your own self-adhesive labels to designate state-supplied and private purchase vaccine:

• Label color template for “State-Supplied” vaccine (Word, 71KB) For printing self-adhesive labels to designate vaccine stock that is state supplied. 80 labels per page. Print in color. (May 22, 2009)
• Label B&W template “State-Supplied” vaccine (Word, 67KB) For printing self-adhesive labels to designate vaccine stock that is state supplied. 80 labels per page. Print in black-and-white. (May 22, 2009)
• Label color template “Private Purchase” vaccine (Word, 74KB) For printing self-adhesive labels to designate vaccine stock that is privately purchased. 80 labels per page. Print in color. (May 22, 2009)
• Label B&W template “Private Purchase” vaccine (Word, 69KB) For printing self-adhesive labels to designate vaccine stock that is privately purchased. 80 labels per page. Print in black-and-white. (May 22, 2009)

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Last Update: 01/09/2012 11:10 AM