Key messages
- National Vaccine Storage Guidelines – ‘Strive for , 3rd edition, provides best practice guidelines for vaccine cold chain management.
- Strive for apply to all immunisation service providers, including medical practices, large hospitals, clinics, mobile services and outreach providers.
- Health services using automated temperature monitoring and back-to-base alarm systems for monitoring vaccine refrigerators are also required to follow Strive for .
Vaccine temperature monitoring devices
Temperature monitoring equipment
Section 4 of the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: ‘Strive for , provides details for vaccine temperature equipment and monitoring. To ensure vaccines are stored within the recommended temperature range, immunisation providers must, at a minimum have:
- A purpose-built vaccine refrigerator, designed and constructed specifically for vaccine storage at temperatures between +2°C and +8°C.
- Each vaccine refrigerator must have a data logger set to continuously measure vaccine refrigerator temperatures at 5-minute intervals or be linked to an automated temperature monitoring system.
- A minimum/maximum thermometer (inbuilt or portable) with an easy-to-read digital display to manually record the temperature of the vaccine refrigerator twice a day.
- Supplementary portable minimum/maximum thermometer/s that are available for use in vaccine transportation or in the event of vaccine refrigerator failure.
Automated temperature monitoring systems
- Automated temperature monitoring systems are remote or wireless temperature monitoring systems and are new technology that can be used to continuously monitor vaccine refrigerator(s) temperatures in real time.
- The wireless temperature monitoring system provides real-time temperature readings, and email or text message alerts when a temperature deviation outside the recommended +2°C to +8°C cold chain range occurs.
- Data does not require download to a computer but must be reviewed at least weekly.
Back-to-base temperature alarm systems
- A back-to-base alarm system is a computer-based control system that alerts nominated clinical staff or the vaccine coordinator when a temperature deviation outside the recommended +2°C to +8°C temperature range occurs in a vaccine refrigerator.
- Data must be download and saved to a computer for assessment at least weekly.
Vaccine temperature monitoring requirements
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- Perform twice daily manual vaccine refrigerator temperature checks (current, minimum and maximum) and document on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature This will ensure staff:
- become familiar with the normal functioning of the vaccine refrigerator
- can identify early warning signs of potential vaccine refrigerator malfunction and
- ensure vaccines have not been subjected to a cold chain breach prior to administration.
- Review the temperature readings at least weekly if there have been no alerts in the preceding week to ensure an alert has not been missed or actioned inappropriately.
- Ensure the Vaccine Management Protocol (Appendix 1 of Strive for ) contains a clear procedure for the response to alerts. This should include:
- expected response time
- name and contact details for the responsible person (and back up)
- escalation procedures for accessing and reviewing vaccine refrigerator temperatures and
- process for responding to a vaccine cold chain breach.
- Document any alerts and time, date of weekly review on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature .
- Follow the department’s guidance for Cold Chain Breach Reporting.
- Perform twice daily manual vaccine refrigerator temperature checks (current, minimum and maximum) and document on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature This will ensure staff:
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- Perform twice daily manual vaccine refrigerator temperature checks (current, minimum and maximum) and document on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature . This will ensure staff
- become familiar with the normal functioning of the vaccine refrigerator
- can identify early warning signs of potential vaccine refrigerator malfunction and
- ensure vaccines have not been subjected to a cold chain breach prior to administration.
- Have a data logger set to continuously measure vaccine refrigerator temperatures at 5-minute intervals
- Data must be downloaded and saved to a computer weekly or more frequently the event of temperature fluctuations.
- A trained person must assess data download to ensure vaccines have been maintained in temperatures between +2°C and +8°C cold chain range
- Ensure the Vaccine Management Protocol (Appendix 1 of Strive for ) contains a clear procedure for the response to alerts. This should include
- expected response time
- name and contact details for the responsible person (and back up)
- escalation procedures for accessing and reviewing vaccine refrigerator temperatures and
- process for responding to a vaccine cold chain breach.
- Document any alerts and time, date of weekly review on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature .
- Follow the department’s guidance for Cold Chain Breach Reporting.
- Perform twice daily manual vaccine refrigerator temperature checks (current, minimum and maximum) and document on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature . This will ensure staff
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Vaccine refrigerators which are not linked to the automated temperature monitoring system:
- Must have a data logger set to continuously measure vaccine refrigerator temperatures at 5-minute intervals.
- Data must be downloaded to a computer weekly or more frequently the event of temperature fluctuations.
- A trained person must assess data download to ensure vaccines have been maintained in temperatures between +2°C and +8°C cold chain range.
- Trained staff must complete twice daily manual vaccine refrigerator temperature checks (current, minimum, maximum) and document on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature .
Vaccine temperature monitoring guide
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Check the vaccine refrigerator temperature before removing vaccines to ensure the temperature is within the +2°C to +8°C cold chain range.
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- Manually record current, minimum and maximum temperature of the vaccine refrigerator on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature .
- Record temperatures in the morning and in the evening, at opening and closing of practice (on days of health service operation).
- Check that temperatures have remained between the +2°C to +8°C range.
- For suspected breach place a sign on the vaccine refrigerator door “do not use vaccines” until a trained person has assessed the cold chain.
- Download the data logger or review automated temperature monitoring system data to assess data.
- Refer to the department’s Cold chain breach reporting web page for reporting cold chain breaches.
- Always reset thermometer after recording each reading.
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Download data logger at least weekly (or in the event of temperature fluctuations)
- Save downloaded data to computer, and review data.
- Check that temperatures have remained between the +2°C to +8°C cold chain range.
- Document time, date on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature .
- Reset the data logger.
- Ensure the logger is set to record at 5-minute intervals.
- Refer to the department’s Cold chain breach reporting web page for reporting cold chain breaches.
Healthservices with automated temperature monitoring systems must review the vaccine refrigerator temperature readings at least weekly and document the time and date of the review on the Strive for 5 - Vaccine Fridge Temperature .
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Perform a vaccine storage self-audit (Appendix 2 of Strive for ).
- Service vaccine refrigerator– contact manufacturer
- Calibrate thermometers/data loggers/sensors and change batteries.
- Ensure staff receive orientation and/or an annual update on vaccine cold chain management.
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Refer to the department’s Cold chain breach reporting web page for reporting cold chain breaches.
Do not use and do not discard vaccines until advice is received from the department.
Reviewed 16 June 2023