How to Store Vaccine

Vaccinations are useful antigenic material to stimulate and develop immune systems
for protection against illness. All vaccines can be easily damaged, so they need to
have very strict storage conditions.

Steps
1.

1
Keep an inventory. You should record all the vaccines you have at least monthly.
Keep the list in a safe place.

2.

2
Manage expiration dates. Vaccines that will expire soon you should move to the
front of the fridge. If you have any vaccines which have already expired you should
through them out immediately.
o

Dispose of vaccines in a place which it can't be salvaged. Often people

recover thrown out vaccines to save money and to get illegal vaccines.

3
Store vaccines safely. To avoid contamination the freezer or fridge should not be
shared with food and drinks. Vaccines should be stored in original packaging in open
containers and separated by different schemes.
o

Do not store vaccines on the bottom of the fridge, near sides or on door.

4
Place in fridge or freezer immediately. Vaccines must always be put into the
correct storage temperature as soon as you receive it.
o

Freezer: -58F to -5F (-50C to -15C)

MMR

MMRV

Varicella

Fridge: 35F to 46F (2C to 8C)

DTaP

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

H. Influenzae type B (Hib)

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Influenza (IIV/LAIV)

Polio (IPV)

MMR

Meningococcal (MCV4/MPSV4)

Pneumococcal (PPSV/PCV13)

Rotavirus

5
Maintain a stable temperature. Power failures and doors being open can create
temperature fluctuations which can affect the vaccine. For fridges place large jugs of
water and for freezers place numerous ice packs around vaccines to protect from
temperature variations.

6
Ensure that the power supply will not get disconnected. Protect the outlet the
fridge or freezer is connected to by labelling them. You should label all outlets, fuse,
circuit breakers, power circuits and auxiliary power.