14 Transporting Refrigerated Vaccine.pdf
PDF 133 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Pages for Reference Binder
- Solicitation number
- RFQ - 10A - 12030700000000000783
- Issued by
- Maine
About this file
This file is a guidelines document from the California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch, detailing procedures for transporting refrigerated vaccines. The document provides comprehensive instructions for assembling packing supplies and properly packing vaccines to maintain required temperatures during transport and short-term storage for up to 12 hours at room temperature or when exposed to temperatures as low as -4°F. The packing procedure applies to all vaccines except varicella vaccine and requires specific materials including hard plastic coolers labeled "Vaccines: Do Not Freeze," conditioned gel cold packs, a calibrated thermometer, and two-inch layers of bubble wrap. The document specifies the exact layering sequence for assembling the cooler, emphasizing that cold packs must be conditioned at room temperature for 1-2 hours before use to prevent vaccine freezing, and that vaccines must never directly contact cold packs or unconditioned dry ice.
Upon arrival at the destination site, recipients must immediately verify vaccine temperature and ensure it falls between 35°F and 46°F before placing it in refrigeration. If temperatures fall below 35°F or exceed 46°F, the receiving party must immediately contact the VFC Representative or VFC program at 1-877-243-8832, or 1-888-867-6319 for H1N1 vaccine, and label the vaccine "Do Not Use" pending further instruction. The guidelines also require that destination refrigerators maintain temperatures between 35°F and 46°F consistently for at least 3-5 days prior to vaccine storage. These procedures ensure vaccine integrity and efficacy throughout the transport and storage chain.
View the file
Other files
Show all 17
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Transporting Refrigerated Vaccine
IMM-983 (2/10)California Department of Public Health, Immunization Branch www.eziz.org
Guidelines for vaccine transport and short-term storage
The procedure below for packing vaccine will keep all vaccines (• except varicella vaccine) within recommended tem-peratures for 12 hours during transport and/or storage at room temperatures (inside a car, building, etc.). It will also main-tain recommended temperatures if the cooler is exposed to outside temperatures as low as -4ºF for one of those 12 hours.
If the vaccine will be stored in refrigerators after transport, be sure those refrigerators have maintained temperatures be-• tween 35ºF and 46ºF for at least 3 to 5 days.
Assemble packing supplies
1. Cooler. Use hard plastic Igloo-type coolers.
Attach a “Vaccines: Do Not Freeze” label to the cooler.
2. “Conditioned” cold packs. Condition frozen gel packs by leaving them at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours until the edges have defrost-ed and packs look like they’ve been “sweating.” Cold packs that are not conditioned can freeze vaccine. Do not use dry ice.
3. Thermometer. Prepare the thermometer by placing it in the refrigera-tor at least 2 hours before you pack the vaccine.
4. Packing material. Use two 2-inch layers of bubble wrap.
Not using enough bubble wrap can cause the vaccine to freeze.
Pack vaccine
Spread conditioned cold packs to cover only half of the bot-tom of the cooler.
Spread “conditioned” cold packs to cover only half of the bubble wrap.
Make sure that the cold packs do not touch the boxes of vaccine.
Completely cover the vaccine with another 2-inch layer of bubble wrap.
Fill the cooler to the top with bubble wrap. Place the thermom-eter’s digital display and the Return or Transfer of Vaccines Report form on top. It’s ok if temperatures go above 46ºF while packing.
Stack layers of vaccine boxes on the bubble wrap. Do not let the boxes of vaccine touch the cold packs.
Completely cover the cold packs with a 2-inch layer of bubble wrap.
Then, place the thermometer/ probe on top of the bubble wrap directly above a cold pack.
1. Cold packs
2. Bubble wrap
3. Vaccine
& Thermometer
4. Bubble wrap
6. Form & display
5. Cold packs
As soon as you reach the destination site, check the vaccine temperature. If the vaccine is:
• Between 35ºF and 46ºF, put it in the refrigerator.
• Below 35ºF or above 46ºF, contact your VFC Rep or the VFC program immediately at 1-877-243-8832. For H1N1 vaccine, call 1-888-867-6319. Then label the vaccine “Do Not Use” and put it in the refrigerator.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .