Vaccine Storage

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1.  Storage, distribution and disposal of vaccines – The Green Book chapter 3, updated 2013 

2.  Protocol for ordering, storing and handling vaccines from PHE updated March 2014 (also see image below)

3.  Vaccine incident guidance: responding to vaccine errors   from PHE updated 2022

4. Finding your local Health Protection Team in England

Note NHS England and the East of England Immunisation Team have published the following very useful website of various resources NHS England — East of England » Vaccine and cold chain incident management

5.  ‘Keep your vaccines healthy’ poster and magnet from Public Health England

6.  ImmForm

and how to register for an ImmForm account helpsheet here 

7.  Guidance on Vaccine Storage and Handling from Public Health Scotland – March 2023

8.  Care Quality Commission Mythbuster no. 17 Vaccines storage and fridges in GP practices  and from Public Health England What to do if issues with vaccine storage management are identified during a Care Quality Commission inspection

9.  Excel spreadsheets for Vaccine Stock Management regarding the travel and childhood vaccines can be found in 12a and 12b in tools 

10. UKHSA – variety of resources about off-label vaccines

• Off-label vaccines: An introductory guide for healthcare professionals in text version here 
• Off-label vaccines: An introductory guide for healthcare professionals in leaflet version   here
• Off-label vaccines: a guide for parents – text version here 
• Off-label vaccines: a guide for parents – leaflet version here
• The use of vaccines that have been temporarily stored outside the recommended temperature range in text version here
• The use of vaccines that have been temporarily stored outside the recommended temperature range in leaflet version here

11. Specialist Pharmacy Service – NHS.

• Understanding why temperature management is important for medicines storage here.
• Managing temperature excursions here.
• Using a refrigerator or freezer to store medicines here.

12.  Useful blog from Immunisation UK by Hannah Taylor: Maintaining the Cold Chain: Dealing with vaccine storage incidents here.

International Resources 

• Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit last updated 2024 from CDC.
• Vaccine Storage and Handling Resources from CDC
• Canadian Government National Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines for Immunization Providers 2015  (now archived but was an excellent resource)
• Australian Government National vaccine storage guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ 
• PAHO’s Cold Chain Resource Center

EQUIPMENT to purchase (PLEASE NOTE I AM NOT ENDORSING ANY COMPANY, merely helping you find suppliers)

• Labcold Vaccine Transport Bags here
• Williams Medical data logger see here, vaccine carrier bag see here but also search on the site for greater selection.
• Medisave UK Ltd – search on vaccine transport boxes see here

Please note, on 19th February 2014  the following CPD article was published in Nursing Standard.  The full reference is:

Chiodini J (2014) Safe storage and handling of vaccines.  Nursing Standard. 28,25, 45-52.  (NS731)  

Very little information is provided in UK guidance on equipment such as data loggers, vaccine transporters, portable vaccine fridges, so I’ve included these topics in the article.  Nursing Standard have kindly allowed me to share a copy of this article for direct access click here or on the image below.

Interesting UK resources – click on images below

International resources – click on images below