Vaccine Storage Guide

Proper REFRIGERATOR Temperatures

1A.Refrigerate
Proper Freezer
Temperatures
anthrax, DTaP, DT, Td, Tdap, hepatitis A and B, Hib, HPV,

Proper FREEZER Temperatures

influenza, IPV, Japanese encephalitis, meningococcal, pneumococcal, rabies,

rotavirus, typhoid, and yellow fever.

Freeze MMR, MMRV, varicella, and zoster.

Dont freeze liquid vaccines!

Aim for 0F ( 18C)

Aim for 40F (5C)

35F (2C) to 46F (8C)

Too cold

Too cold

Too warm

58F ( 50C) to 5F ( 15C)

Too warm

Proper Set-Up

Refrigerator-only unit

No vaccine near
cold air vent!

No vaccine near
cold air vent!

DTaP

H2O H2O
PCV

DTaP

No vaccine in
doors! Fill space
with cold packs
and water bottles.

DTaP
Hep A

Rota

Hib

IPV

40

old
Cold C ck
Pa
Pack

DTaP Frozen
Pack

MMR

No food or beverages in
refrigerator or freezer!
DTaP

Frozen
Pack

MCV

MMR

No vaccine in doors!
Fill space with frozen packs.

Zoster

Varicella
Flu

Cold
Cold Pack
k
Pac

H2O

H2O

Flu

H2O

Frzn Pack

Hep B

H2O

Frozen
Pack

Varicella

Frozen
Pack

Frozen
Pack

Fill space with frozen packs.

No vaccine in drawers or
on floor of refrigerator!
Fill space with cold packs or
water jugs.

Clearly label the designated space for each vaccine. Avoid storing "look-alike" and
"sound-alike" vaccines next to each other (e.g., Tdap and DTaP, HepA and HepB and Hib).

For all units:

Frzn Pack Fr
zn Pack

zn Pack
Frzn Pack Fr
No vaccine in doors!
Fill space with frozen packs.
Frzn Pack

No vaccine near
cold air vent!

No vaccine on
top shelf!

Cold Pack

No food or beverage
in refrigerator or
freezer!

HPV

Varicella
PPSV

No vaccine inFrozen
the freezer of a
combination unit!
Pack

Frzn Pack Frzn Pack

MMRV

Tdap

MPV

Combination refrigerator/freezer unit

Freezer-only unit

Keep vaccine 2-3 inches away from walls and other boxes.
Post Do Not Unplug stickers on electrical outlets. Plug in only one unit per outlet.

Frzn Pack

Rota

IPV

Hib

PCV

40

DTaP

Frzn Pack

No vaccine in doors!
Fill space with cold packs
and water bottles.
Cold Pack Cold Pack Cold Pack

DTaP

Frzn Pack

Hep A

Hep B

DTaP

Cold Pack Cold Pack

MPV/MCV

H2O

Flu

H2O

Tdap

Cold Pack

HPV

No vaccine in drawers or on floor

H2O
H2O
of refrigerator!
Fill space with cold packs or water jugs.

Dashed lines show usable space.

Xs and lines show areas to avoid.

Place thermometer probe in the center of the unit.

Post a temperature log on the door.
Minnesota Dept. of Health, Immunization Program

Adapted with permission from the California Department of Public Health

Page 1 of 2 (10/14) ID# 53475

Vaccine Storage Guide

Proper Management

Designate one fully trained staff member to be the primary vaccine coordinator and at least one person to be backup. Ensure ongoing training for all immunization staff.
Manage vaccine inventory
Store vaccine correctly
Monitor temperatures
Take action on out-of-range
temperatures
Review your vaccine inventory on a
Use thermometers that come with a
Place the thermometers temperature
monthly basis and with each vaccine
order to avoid over-ordering.

probe in the center of the refrigerator

or freezer with the vaccines.

Check vaccine expiration dates.

Identify vaccine that will expire and
determine if it should be transferred.

Use open trays, wire baskets, or other

uncovered containers to help organize
vaccines.

Rotate your vaccine supply by placing

vaccines with the earliest expiration
dates in front of other vaccines and
always use them first.

Clearly label each container with the

vaccine type. Avoid storing look-alike,
sound-alike vaccines next to each
other (e.g., Tdap and DTaP, HepA and
HepB).

Call the MnVFC program if you have

MnVFC vaccine that will expire within
three months that you cannot use.
If you have stock of both private and
MnVFC vaccine, mark them clearly.
Make sure you have enough space to
store vaccine for the back-to-school
rush and flu season.

Immunization Program
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
651-201-5522, 1-800-657-3970
www.health.state.mn.us/immunize
Adapted with permission from the California Department of Public Health

Keep vaccines in their original

packaging.
Store vaccines on the middle shelves
and two to three inches from the walls
of the combination refrigerator/freezer,
not in the door or bins.
Keep water bottles, jugs, or cold packs
in the refrigerator and frozen packs or
other ice-filled containers in the
freezer. Mark water bottles DO NOT
DRINK.
Be sure to routinely check that the
door of each unit is shut.

certificate stating they have been

calibrated according to national
standards. Thermometers without this
certificate are not acceptable.

Check and record refrigerator and

freezer temperatures twice a day, first
thing in the morning and last thing at
the close of business.
Record temperature readings on a
temperature log and post it in a visible
location on or near the refrigerator or
freezer.
Make sure to record the date, time,
and name or initials of the individual
checking the temperatures.
Record the minimum and maximum
temperatures each morning and reset,
if needed, after recording them.
Take immediate action on all
out-of-range temperatures!
Be sure to keep temperature logs for
three years.

Determine the cause, if possible.

Adjust the thermostat, if necessary.
Monitor the temperature.
If the temperature doesnt stabilize in the
correct range within 30 minutes:
Stop using the vaccine.
Mark the vaccine DO NOT USE.
Move the vaccine to a refrigerator or
freezer thats maintaining the correct
temperature.
For MnVFC vaccine, call the MnVFC
program at 651-201-5522 to report
out-of-range temperature incidents.
Call the vaccine manufacturer and ask
to speak to a medical consultant or
quality assurance staff.
Be ready to share the lot numbers,
expiration dates, temperature logs,
and the time the unit may have been
out-of-range.
Document your actions.

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