Vaccine guidelines

Guidelines

Tips for your cold chain inspection

Ensure all staff are trained on proper vaccine storage and handling guidelines. Use this checklist as a guide to prepare for your annual vaccine fridge inspection.

Call KFL&A Public Health Immunization Nurse at 613-549-1232, ext. 0 for questions, or to report a cold chain incident.

Contingency planning:

Read the vaccine storage and handling guidelines; ensure a hard copy is available for staff.
Have a contingency plan for equipment malfunction, power outage or other emergencies. This should include a partnership with another cold chain site who could assist with temporary storage of your vaccines if needed.
Have a cooler with its own max-min thermometer on site available for short term vaccine storage and transportation of your vaccines.
Assign staff members as the primary cold chain contact and back up contact responsible for vaccine management.

Vaccine refrigeration storage:

Purpose-built vaccine fridge (preferred).
Domestic stand-alone fridge (with modifications to ensure stability).
Domestic bar size fridge is not recommended.
Ensure your fridge is placed away from direct sunlight, away from external walls and in a space that has good airflow.
Have a “Do not unplug” sticker by the electrical outlet so it is not accidentally unplugged or turned off. Utilize generator outlets whenever possible.
Ensure your fridge is serviced and maintained in good working order with adequate door seals and locks.

Vaccine storage:

Keep vaccines organized by product and in their original boxes to protect from light damage.
Use short expiring dated vaccines and red dotted vaccines first; only take vaccines out of the fridge when ready to use.
Store only what your fridge has capacity for. Ministry guidelines state no more than one month’s vaccine supply at any time.
No storage of vaccine allowed in any doors or drawers of fridge at any time.

Temperature monitoring device:

Use of a data logger (preferred) or digital max/min thermometer, with ability to measure in 0.1 degree increments, is required.
Temperature sensor must be placed on the middle shelf, in an empty vaccine box.
Batteries of your max/min device need to be changed at least every six months.
Test your device for accuracy annually.
Set device alarms to sound at 3°C to 7°C .

Temperature documentation:

Twice daily documentation is required; document at the beginning and end of each day.
Must include time of documentation, date, current, max and min temperatures with each reading and must reset the max-min each time.
Ensure temperatures are maintained between 2°C to 8°C .

Cold chain incidents:

Contact KFL&A Public Health as soon as an out-of-range temperature is discovered.
Report directly to the immunization nurse on call at 613-549-1232, ext. 0.
Implement contingency plans if the fridge remains unstable.

Resources

Immunize.org – Ask the Experts

Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule
Government of Ontario
Immunize Canada
Vaccination – Pregnancy Info - The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada