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Vaccine Storage Requirements

Proper vaccine storage and handling are critical in preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. This page provides guidance on setting up and maintaining proper vaccine storage units at your site.

On this page

Acceptable temperature ranges & storage unit requirements

Organizing vaccine in your storage unit

Getting your storage unit approved

Defrost guide & planned vaccine transport

Storage unit relocation

Contact storage & handling

tempcheck@phila.gov

215-685-6777

Cold Chain

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Vaccines exposed to storage temperatures outside the manufacturer determined ranges may have reduced potency, creating limited protection and resulting in the re-vaccination of patients, loss of public confidence in vaccines, and thousands of dollars in wasted vaccines.
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Proper storage and handling begins with an effective vaccine cold chain.
A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain that includes all vaccine-related equipment and procedures. Vaccines must be stored properly from the time they are manufactured until they are administered.

Vaccine storage requirements

To protect the viability of the federally funded vaccines stored at your site, they must be stored in the acceptable temperature ranges indicated below.

To maintain proper vaccine temperature, ensure the following are in place at your site:

Acceptable temperature ranges

Acceptable range

< 36.0°F
< 2.0°C

36.0°F — 46.0°F
2.0°C — 8.0°C

> 46.0°F
> 8.0°C

Acceptable range

< -58.0°F
< -50.0°C

-58.0°F — 5.0°F
-50.0°C — -15.0°C

> 5.0°F
> -15.0°C

Storage units

Your vaccine storage unit is a key component in maintaining the vaccine cold chain at your practice.  See below for an overview of storage unit requirements.

Recommended

  • Stand-alone refrigerator
  • Stand-alone freezer
  • Pharmaceutical units
illustration of a pharmaceutical fridge
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Acceptable

  • Refrigerator in household combination refrigerator-freezer
Illustration of home refrigerator and freezer combo. Freezer section has a x-mark over it to show it should not be used.

Unacceptable

  • Dorm-style units
  • Freezer in household combination refrigerator-freezer
Illustration of dorm-style fridge. Colored in with red to show it should not be used.

Your storage unit must:

  • Consistently maintain storage temperature.
  • Have enough space to properly store vaccines throughout the year including back to school and flu season.
  • Have separate external doors for refrigerator and freezer.
  • Have ”Do Not Unplug” stickers at the outlet, on unit, and on the circuit breaker. Order free stickers!
  • Be plugged directly into a dedicated wall outlet.
  • Have clearly labeled plug and circuit breaker on the electric panel to prevent accidental loss of power.

Your storage unit must not:

  • Be plugged into GFI/GFCI outlets (specialized outlets with a built-in breaker may have reset buttons).
  • Be plugged into outlets that can be activated by a wall switch.
  • Be plugged into extension cords, power strips, or surge protectors.
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Email tempcheck@phila.gov for help with selecting the unit that’s best for your practice.

Organizing vaccine inside your storage unit

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Follow these storage steps to protect your vaccine viability and prevent wastage.

  • Place the temperature probe in the center of the unit (the center of the center shelf).
  • Use baskets, rubber bands, and/or tags to organize the vaccine.
  • Separate vaccines with similar names to avoid administration of the wrong vaccine (i.e. separate DTaP and Tdap).
  • Clearly label the vaccine with the funding source (e.g., VFC, VFAAR, private). Order free stickers!
  • Do not store vaccine on the floor, inside of drawers, or in the doors of the unit.
  • Store vaccine away from the unit’s internal air vent(s).
  • Store vaccine 2-3 inches away from the unit walls.
  • Place water bottles in your unit based on your unit type. For specifics on setting up your unit based on the unit type, refer to the images.

Approval

Before you can store any federally funded vaccine in your storage unit, it must be approved by the Immunization Program. Follow the steps below to get started.

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Send pictures of the following for each prospective storage unit to tempcheck@phila.gov:

  • Outlets and plugs of the unit.
  • Must have “Do not unplug” stickers above the outlet and on the cord.
    Order stickers for free!
  • Room the unit is inside.
  • Inside and outside of the unit.
  • Must show probe placed in the center of the middle shelf.
  • Filled out first page of your vaccine management plan.
  • Attached to unit and visible to staff.
  • Supplies that you’ve gathered for emergency transport.

Routine maintenance

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Storage units need regular maintenance to ensure proper operation. Conduct routine maintenance for all vaccine storage units and related equipment – such as generators, alarm systems, and back-up batteries – so that your equipment functions at maximum efficiency:

  • Check seals and door hinges.
  • Clean coils and other components per manufacturer direction.
  • Defrost manual-defrost freezers.
  • Clean the interior of each unit to discourage bacterial and fungal growth. (Do so quickly to minimize the risk of a temperature excursion).
  • Test any backup generator quarterly and have it serviced annually.

Planned transport & relocation

Vaccine transport

Vaccine transport refers to any time vaccine needs to be moved from primary units at the site to another location.

The requirement for continuous temperature monitoring with a DDL extends to transport. Whenever the vaccine needs to be moved, a DDL needs to be with the vaccine at all times.

This can mean requesting a back-up DDL from the Immunization Program or moving the DDL from your primary unit with the vaccine.

Vaccine can only be moved from an approved and monitored storage unit to another approved and monitored storage unit. If the receiving unit does not have at least 48 hours of temperatures, then that unit is not ready to receive vaccines.

Federally funded vaccine cannot be transported in a non-emergency situation without prior permission from the Immunization Program.

Non-emergency situations include:

  • Planned move
  • New unit
  • Planned loss of power
  • Defrost

Unit relocation

Units that have been moved – from a location within the office or a location outside the office – may not be able to maintain temperatures in its new location for a variety of reasons. These include:

  • Alteration of settings during the move.
  • Changes in the temperature and/or air circulation in the new location.
  • Damage to the unit during the move.
  • Reliability of new outlet being used.

Unit must be re-approved when moved to a new location.

Contact tempcheck@phila.gov for further guidance.

Clinic enrollment

Temperature monitoring & reporting