Immunisation - Cold Chain
Introduction for new staff
- Training tool for new staff: Introduction to Cold Chain Management
National requirements
- National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: ‘Strive for 5’, 3rd edition
Equipment
- Fridge: must be vaccine specific fridge - see examples of vaccine fridges
- Data logger: must record at 5 minute intervals - see examples of data loggers
- Min/max thermometer: in-built or portable min/max thermometer
Monitoring
- Twice daily: record min/max temperatures using Strive for 5 temperature graph
- Weekly: download data logger report, record results
- Annually: complete Vaccine storage self audit
NSW requirements
- Guidelines: Cold Chain Toolkit - NSW Health
- Checklist: Vaccine Storage Checklist - NSW Health
- Online module (compulsory): Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management - NSW Health / HETI
- Website: Vaccine storage and cold chain management - NSW Health
Cold Chain Breach (CCB)
Need to report a cold chain breach?
For COVID-19 vaccines, contact the Vaccine Operation Centre (VOC):
- Phone: 1800 318 208
VOC hours of operation: 7am to 10pm AEST
Email: COVID19VaccineOperationsCentre@Health.gov.au
For National Immunsation Program (NIP) vaccines, email your Public Health Unit (PHU):
- completed Cold Chain Breach and Vaccine Wastage Reporting Form (June 2020)
- data logger records
- min/max temperature records
Email for South Eastern Sydney PHU: SESLHD-PublicHealthUnit-IMMTeam@health.nsw.gov.au
Email for Sydney PHU: SLHD-Immunisation@health.nsw.gov.au
- Process:Steps to take in a Cold Chain Breach
- Poster:What is cold chain breach?
- Poster:CCB Flowchart
- Information sheet:Why report a CCB?
- Order stickers: CCB stickers
- Poster:"Isolated Vaccines" poster
- pdf Click here to download (1.41 MB) complete set of 'Cold chain breach' resources
Alternative vaccine storage - Power failure or fridge malfunction
- Transporting vaccines - 'Strive for 5', Appendix 8
- Managing a Power Failure - 'Strive for 5', Appendix 9
- Power Failure Action Plan - CESPHN Information Sheet
- Alternative Vaccine Storage Options in a Power Failure - CESPHN Information Sheet
- How to pack a cooler - NSW Health Strive for 5
- Temperature monitoring chart for esky/cooler - NSW Health
- HLP MediTemp min/max thermometer - CESPHN user guide
- Annual maintenance of portable minimum/maximum thermometers - NSW Health Strive for 5
Data Loggers
- Data loggers on the market: What is a data logger? - CESPHN Information Sheet
- LogTag user guide: LogTag - how to download, analyse and configure
- pdf EliTech - How to download data (378 KB)
- pdf EliTech - How to configure (130 KB)
- pdf Tiny Tag - How to download data (181 KB)
- pdf Tiny Tag - How to interpret data (215 KB)
- Guide on how to organise vaccine fridge
- Template: fridge map for solid door vaccine fridges
- Things to consider when Opening, closing, or moving practice
- How to check cold chain monitors when receiving vaccine deliveries
- Where to rent a fridge if required for flu vaccines
Cold Chain when Moving Premises