MINNESOTA VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM
Vaccine Storage Tip Sheet
Store vaccine in the center of the
unit, away from walls, floor, and
cold air vent
Do not store vaccine in doors,
drawers, under or near cooling
vents, or on the floor of the unit
Store vaccines on the middle shelves and place
them 2-3 inches from the walls. This allows
good air circulation within the unit and assures
the vaccines will maintain a more consistent
temperature.
This assures good air circulation throughout the
unit and prevents the vaccine from
temperatures that are too warm or too cold.
Store vaccines in original
packaging
Storing food and beverages in the same unit
with vaccines can result in frequent opening of
the door, greater risk of temperature
fluctuations, excessive light exposure, and risk
of spills and contamination.
Storing vaccines in the manufacture’s packaging
reduces the risks for storage, handling, and
administration errors.
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Provides added insulation if there is a
power outage or mechanical failure
Makes managing inventory and tracking
expiration dates easier
Reduces exposure to light
Store water bottles and frozen
coolant packs to stabilize
temperatures
There should be enough room in the unit to
store water bottles (label “DO NOT DRINK”) in
the refrigerator and coolant packs in the freezer
to stabilize the temperature. This helps to keep
the temperature consistent when opening and
closing the door during normal working
conditions. It also helps keep the unit in the
proper temperature range if the power goes
out. Water bottles also serve as physical
barriers to prevent placement of vaccine in
areas of the unit that may be too warm or too
cold.
Do not store food in the unit
If other medications or biologic products must
be stored in the same unit, always store below
vaccines on a different shelf. Never store these
products in the same tray or bin as vaccines.
Our Vaccine Storage Guide
(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize
/hcp/vaxhandling.html) is a good visual
reference for proper placement and
management of vaccine.
Minnesota Vaccine for Children (MnVFC)
P.O. Box 64975, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
651-201-5522
[email protected]
www.health.state.mn.us/mnvfc
To obtain this information in a different format, call:
651-201-5414
(2/2016) Page 1 of 1