Important Reminders Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Storage
Following vaccine storage requirements is critical to patient safety
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is reminding vaccinators that COVID-19 vaccine vials need to be stored properly and that vaccinators must follow all manufacturer, DHS, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) storage requirements. Doing so is critical to ensure patient safety, full potency of the vaccine, and that individuals do not need to be revaccinated.
Vaccinators who do not follow storage requirements may be suspended from ordering and administering COVID-19 vaccine and will be asked to collaborate with DHS in communicating with individuals if revaccination is recommended. Please inform staff members in your organization who are responsible for managing vaccine storage and handling about this important information.
Refrigerator and freezer recommendations
Taken from the CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit (pages 50-51).
COVID-19 vaccination providers must have proper storage and temperature monitoring equipment to meet the specific needs of the COVID-19 vaccine product(s) they have in their inventory. This includes the correct vaccine storage unit(s), whether a refrigerator, regular freezer, or ultra-cold freezer. Purpose-built, also referred to as “pharmaceutical-grade,” units are preferred and designed specifically for storage of biologics, including vaccines.
However, household-grade units can be an acceptable alternative in some situations. Most standard freezer units do not meet ultra-cold freezer requirements for storing vaccine between -60° C and -90° C (-76° F and -130° F). Do not store any vaccine in a dormitory-style or bar-style combined refrigerator/freezer unit under any circumstances. These units have a single exterior door and an evaporator plate/cooling coil, usually located in an icemaker/freezer compartment. These units pose a significant risk of freezing vaccines, even when used for temporary storage. (Note: Not all small storage units are dormitory- or bar-style units. Compact, purpose-built units for biologics can be used to store vaccines.)
It is essential for each vaccine storage unit to have a temperature monitoring device (TMD) to ensure that vaccines are stored within the correct temperature range. CDC requires a specific type of TMD called a “digital data logger” (DDL) to monitor COVID-19 vaccines. A DDL provides the most accurate storage unit temperature information, including details on how long a unit has been operating outside the recommended temperature range (referred to as a "temperature excursion").
Storage units must have a DDL that can continuously monitor temperatures. Staff must check and record temperatures at the beginning of each workday to determine if any excursions have occurred since the last temperature check. Most DDLs measure minimum and maximum temperatures. However, if your DDL does not display minimum and maximum temperatures, the temperature must be checked and recorded at the beginning and end of each clinic day, and you must review the continuous DDL temperature data daily. When recording include:
- Minimum/maximum temperature
- Date
- Time
- Name of person checking and recording temperature
- Actions taken if a temperature excursion occurred
- Make sure to clear the temperature daily from the DDL after recording the information
Temperature records must be kept for a minimum of three years, or longer if required by your jurisdiction.
Manufacturer’s instructions need to be followed for storage
Store all vaccines according to the manufacturer’s instructions. CDC has COVID-19 vaccine storage and handling summary documents available on their website and links to them are below.
Vaccines that are to be stored at refrigerator or freezer temperatures should not be stored in the refrigerator or freezer door. Vaccines should be rotated with short-dated product in front for use first.
Additional resources
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