MINNESOTA VACCINES FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM
Moving Vaccine to a New Storage Unit
Plan
Move
☐ Set the move date
☐ Move vaccine to interim site (alternate unit
or emergency site) if needed while storage
units are being moved and stabilized
☐ Review and communicate recommended
moving and plug-in procedures with moving
personnel
☐ Communicate the move date to clinic staff
and partners including the Minnesota
Vaccines for Children Program (651-2015522)
☐ Reduce inventory - use as much vaccine as
possible prior to the move date
☐ Coordinate future vaccine orders so that
additional vaccine arrives after the new unit
has documented stable temperature
☐ Update vaccine-related policies/protocols.
See MnVFC Policy and Procedures Manual
(www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immun
ize/mnvfc/index.html)
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Managing Your Vaccine
Planning for Vaccine Storage Emergencies
– update the information and plan for the
new site
Packing and Transporting Vaccine – see
below for specifics about packing
☐ Locate the circuit breakers associated with
the new storage unit(s) and place a
“WARNING” sticker on them
☐ Do not plug storage unit into ground fault
circuit interrupter (GFI or GFCI) outlets or
extension cords
☐ Plug storage unit into backed-up (emergency
power supply) power outlets when possible
Place
☐ For proper circulation allow at least 4 inches
between storage unit and wall on all sides
and top
☐ Place unit in well-ventilated room
Pack
☐ Do not block motor cover
☐ Determine who will pack the vaccine
☐ Level unit with at least 1 to 2 inches between
bottom of unit and floor
☐ Review and follow these packing guidelines
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Transporting Refrigerated Vaccine
(www.eziz.org/assets/docs/IMM-983.pdf)
Transporting Frozen Vaccines
(www.eziz.org/assets/docs/IMM-1130.pdf)
☐ Place temperature monitoring device probes
in the middle of the unit
☐ Do not use dry ice
☐ Maintain proper vaccine storage
temperatures during transport – monitor
and record temperatures
(2/2016) Page 1 of 2
MOVING VACCINE TO A NEW STORAGE UNIT
Label
☐ Place “DO NOT UNPLUG” stickers on wall
outlets
☐ Place “WARNING” stickers on the circuit
breaker fuse box
Stabilize
☐ Place water bottles and cold packs in unit to
help stabilize temperature and decrease
empty space
Notify the MnVFC program if your clinic has
moved to update contact information.
Minnesota Department of Health
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
☐ Allow seven days to stabilize the
temperature between 35°F and 46°F (2°C
and 8°C) in a newly installed or repaired
refrigerator
☐ Allow seven days to stabilize the
temperature between -58°F and +5°F (-50°C
and -15°C) in a newly installed or repaired
freezer
☐ Document a week of storage unit
temperature readings done twice daily,
including minimum/maximum temperatures
one time each morning
Use
☐ Place vaccine in new unit only after it has
been documented that unit is maintaining
appropriate temperatures for a week
☐ Order additional vaccine as need to maintain
enough inventory for population served
(2/2016) Page 2 of 2