Vaccine orders and storage over Christmas and New Year
The NSW Vaccine Centre will be closed for routine deliveries over the Christmas and New Year period.
Consider the following information to ensure optimal cold chain management during December and January.
NSW Vaccine Centre delivery schedule:
- Metro orders must be placed before 2.30 pm on Thursday 19 December to be delivered by Monday 23 December.
- Non-metro orders must be placed before 2.30 pm on Wednesday 18 December to be delivered by Friday 20 December.
- Orders placed after these times will be held in the online ordering system and delivered in the week commencing 6 January 2020. Routine deliveries will resume the week commencing 6 January 2020.
Considerations when placing orders:
- Do not order excessive stock over this period to avoid unnecessary wastage following power outages caused by bushfires, storms and high temperatures affecting power systems.
- Keep a smaller amount of vaccines if your practice will be closed, and consider that patients may be away over the holiday period.
Ensure that your staff are trained on cold chain management:
- Confirm all staff know how to record and reset the temperature readings (current, minimum and maximum).
- Confirm staff know how to download and review the data logger report.
- Confirm all staff know what to do if a cold chain breach is identified.
- Staff to complete and hold certificate in HETI Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management - online training module.
Ensure you have an alternative option for vaccine storage in the event of a power failure:
- UPS back up battery OR
- Esky back up storage - check esky size is adequate to hold all vaccine stock, enough ice packs, bubble wrap and a portable digital thermometer per esky
- Ensure staff are trained on how to manage a power/fridge failure
CESPHN hours over Christmas and New Year
The CESPHN offices will be closed from Wednesday 25 December 2019 and will reopen on Thursday 2 January 2020.
For any enquiries regarding immunisation or cold chain management during this time, please contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
We wish you a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.
NSWISS hours over Christmas and New Year
The NSW Specialist Immunisation Service (NSWISS) telephone advice line 1800 679 477 will be closed from 23 December 2019 to 5 January 2020 and reopen 6 January 2020.
For any queries over the Christmas/New Year closure, please email the enquiry to SCHN-NSWISS@health.nsw.gov.au. The NSWISS team will respond when they return on 6 January 2020