According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), inappropriate storage of childhood vaccines can affect their potency and efficacy, increasing the risk that children will not get the maximum protection against preventable diseases. As new school terms begin throughout California, the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. shares with members the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines related to proper handling and storage of these vaccines.
Vaccine Storage Temperatures Guidelines
- Store unopened and opened vaccines in their original box with the lid in place until administration. (Note: Many vaccines should be protected from light.)
- Keep calibrated thermometers with logs for both the refrigerator and freezer. Read and document refrigerator and freezer temperatures twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. View this log for appropriate temperature ranges for both refrigerators and freezers.
Vaccines Exposed to Inappropriate Temperatures
Vaccines exposed to temperatures outside the recommended range - either too warm or too cold - require immediate corrective action! Vaccine providers should have a current emergency plan that includes, but is not limited to, these four actions.
- Place the refrigerated vaccines in the recommended storage between 35°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C). Freezer vaccines recommended storage is between -58°F and 5°F (-50°C and -15°C).
- Mark the vaccine "Do Not Use" and keep separate from uncompromised vaccines. A clearly labeled paper bag can be used for this purpose.
- Contact the manufacturer and/or the immunization program for further guidance.
- Do not discard vaccines unless directed to do so by the manufacturer and/or your state or local department. (View this log for recommended storage temperature ranges for both refrigerators and freezers.)
Special Instructions
Diphtheria toxoid-, tetanus toxoid-, and acellular pertussis-containing vaccines are easily confused increasing the risk for error. Consider organizing vaccines in the storage unit by age group and/or color coding labels to distinguish vaccines from each other. Do not store sound-alike or look-alike vaccines next to each other. Labeling the space where the vaccine is stored with name, age indications or other information unique to the vaccine can help prevent vaccine administration errors.
Shelf Life
Check the expiration date on the container, vial or manufacturer-filled syringe of the vaccine and diluent, if applicable. Do not use a vaccine or diluent after the expiration date shown on the label. Providers should never store expired vaccines with unexpired ones. The CDC recommends expired vaccines be immediately removed from refrigerators and freezers to prevent administration of an expired vaccine.
Authored by
Sue Jones
Senior Risk Management & Patient Safety Specialist
If you have questions about this article, please contact us. This information should not be considered legal advice applicable to a specific situation. Legal guidance for individual matters should be obtained from a retained attorney.