Vaccine Storage and Handling

Recommendations and Guidelines

Get Email Updates

At a Glance

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.

Resources on Proper Vaccine Storage and Handling

• Keys to Storing and Handling Your Vaccine Supply (Apr 2018)
  A video designed to decrease vaccine storage and handling errors and preserve the nation’s vaccine supply by demonstrating to immunization providers the recommended best practices for storage and handling of vaccines. (Video is a winner of the Winter/Spring 2014 Web Health Award).
• These storage and handling fact sheets illustrate best practices for both refrigerated and frozen vaccines. Written in plain language, they include assessments to reinforce key points. While they are CDC-developed and branded fact sheets, each contains an area where you can insert your agency’s logo.
  • Temperature Monitoring Best Practices for Refrigerated Vaccines [2 pages]  (Feb 2018)
    Fahrenheit (F) | Celsius (C)
  • Temperature Monitoring Best Practices for Frozen Vaccines [2 pages] (Feb 2018)
    Fahrenheit (F) | Celsius (C)
  • Storage Best Practices for Refrigerated Vaccines [2 pages] (Feb 2018)
    Fahrenheit (F) | Celsius (C)
  • Storage Best Practices for Frozen Vaccines [2 pages] (Feb 2018)
    Fahrenheit (F) | Celsius (C)
• Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit (Jan 2018)
  A comprehensive resource for health care providers on vaccine storage and handling recommendations and best practice strategies. The Toolkit includes guidance on managing and storing vaccine inventory, using and maintaining storage unit and temperature monitoring equipment, preparing for emergency situations, and training staff.
• You Call the Shots: Vaccine Storage and Handling Module (Jan 2019)
  An interactive, web-based module which provides learning opportunities, self-test practice questions, reference and resource materials, and an extensive glossary. Continuing education credit is available.
• These example vaccine labels can be used to organize vaccines within the storage unit. Referenced in the storage and handling toolkit.
  • 2018-2019 Influenza Season Vaccine Label Examples [4 pages] (Oct 2018)
  • Vaccine Labels Examples [2 MB, 20 pages] (Feb 2018)
• Provider’s Role: Importance of Vaccine Admin. & Storage
  Includes vaccine administration, timing and spacing of vaccine doses, observation of precautions and contraindications, management of vaccine side effects, etc.
• Vaccines for Children Program: Vulnerabilities in Vaccine Management (Jun 2012)
  Report and recommendations released by HHS Office of Inspector General following a routine assessment of the Vaccines for Children program.
• Handling a Temperature Excursion in Your Vaccine Storage Unit [1 page, 508] (Dec 2017)
  This document describes immediate corrective actions following a vaccine storage unit temperature excursion.
• Packing Vaccines for Transport During Emergencies [2 pages] (Aug 2015)
  Do you know how to protect your vaccines during equipment failures, power outages, natural disasters? This document illustrates how to pack your refrigerated vaccines during emergency situations to prevent compromising vaccine storage conditions and damage to your vaccine supply.

 Top of Page

Additional Resources for Vaccine Storage and Handling

Note: Storage and handling information in previously published CDC documents, including the 12th Edition Pink Book, may be superseded by the materials listed in above section on this page. If inconsistencies are seen, follow newer guidelines in toolkit or more recently dated materials.

• Vaccine Administration and Storage and Handling Resources Guide [1 page]
• Contact Information for State and Local Health Department Immunization Programs
• Immunization Action Coalition
  • Storage and Handling Resources
    Refrigerator Temperature Logs (Fahrenheit)(Celsius), Freezer Temperature Logs, Checklist for Safe Storage and Handling, Don’t Be Guilty of These Errors in Storage & Handling, Do Not Unplug Sign…
  • Manufacturer Product Information
    Package inserts
• Manufacturer/Distributor Contact Information [2 pages] (Dec 2017)
• Pink Book Chapter on Vaccine Storage and Handling
  See note above about referencing this document.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology: Vaccine Storage and Handling Research

 Top of Page