Proper vaccine storage and handling practices play a very important role in protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine quality is the shared responsibility of everyone, from the time vaccine is manufactured until it is administered. CDC recommends the following vaccine storage unit types in order of preference:
- Pharmaceutical grade stand-alone or combination units (preferred)
- Household/commercial stand-alone units
- Household/commercial combination units using the refrigerator section only.
- CDC Recommendation and Guidelines
- CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Tool Kit
- AAP Storage Unit Guidance Document
- CDC “You Call The Shots” Vaccine Storage and Handling (Required)
- “You Call The Shots” Training- Vaccines for Children (Required)
- Temperature Charts- Providers are required to monitor and document temperatures twice a day for all vaccine storage units. Temperature documentation must contain:
- At least one minimum/maximum temperature reading per day
- The time and date of each reading
- The name (or initials) of the person who assessed and recorded the readings
- Refrigerator Charts Fahrenheit / Celsius
- Freezer Charts Fahrenheit / Celsius