Vaccine Storage and Handling

Vaccine Storage and Handling Resource Center for Health Care Personnel

Vaccine quality is the shared responsibility of all handlers of vaccines from the time a vaccine is manufactured until it is administered to a patient. Vaccines, like all temperature sensitive medical products, need to be kept at the appropriate temperature range in order to protect our Service members and beneficiaries. According to the CDC, "improper storage is the most common vaccine delivery problem they encounter." Emphasis on the importance of good policies and procedures, frequent and on-going training of staff, proper equipment and maintenance will help all staff provide high quality vaccines and reduce waste caused by improper storage.

Even with proper education and training, vaccine losses continue to occur throughout the Department of Defense due to improper storage and handling. Failure to adhere to recommended specifications for storage and handling of immunizations can reduce their potency, resulting in an inadequate immune response and protection of our patients. By understanding and implementing proper storage and handling practices, staff in clinics, patient centered medical homes, and other healthcare locations where immunizations are administered can ensure their critical role in improving and maintaining the health of uniformed Service members and other beneficiaries.

Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines are IAW the DOD Joint Immunization Regulation/Instruction (Immunization and Chemoprophylaxis for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases- AR 40-562/BUMEDINST 6230.15B/AFI 48-110_IP/CG COMDTINST M6230.4G) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices General Recommendations on Immunization.

Resource Center

You will find below all of the resources you will need about vaccine storage and handling. More will be added as they are published or released.

Forms (Right-click and save document to your desktop in order to fill it out and/or add digital signature)	Date
DHA Form 177, Potentially Compromised Temperature Sensitive Medical Product Worksheet	July 2024
DHA Form 301: Freezer Temperature Log - Celsius	October 2022
DHA Form 302: Freezer Temperature Log - Fahrenheit	October 2022
DHA Form 303: Refrigerator Temperature Log - Celsius	October 2022
DHA Form 304: Refrigerator Temperature Log - Fahrenheit	October 2022
DHA Publications	Date
DHA-PM 6430.05: Shelf-Life Extension Program, Change 1	March 10, 2023
DHA-AI 4165.01: Mandatory Use of the Defense Medical Logistics Standard Support (DMLSS) Facilities Management/LogiCole Facilities Management Systems	Feb. 7, 2023
DHA-AI 4140.01: Medical Logistics Temperature Sensitive Medical Products Management	March 22, 2022
DHA-PI 4180.01: Emergency Power, Standby Generators, and Stored Energy Power Systems	Jan. 5, 2022
DHA-AI 6430.07: Medical Logistics Inventory Management	Dec. 8, 2021
DHA-PM 6050.01: Medical Logistics (MEDLOG) Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) Management	July 22, 2021
Storage and Handling Reference Documents	Date
DHA-IHD Vaccine Storage and Handling Guide	May 4, 2022
Light-Sensitive Vaccines	Oct. 1, 2024
Vaccines With Diluents: How to Use Them	March 4, 2024
Multidose vaccine vials and beyond-use dates	Sept. 26, 2023
TempTale Specifications and Use	Aug. 16, 2023
Immunization Tool Kit Ninth Edition	Sept. 3, 2024
CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit	July 31, 2024
CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Resources	Aug. 10, 2024
Offsite Vaccine Clinic Resources	Date
Offsite Clinic Vaccine Inventory Issue Return Receipt and Temp Log Celsius	March 2025
Offsite Clinic Vaccine Inventory Issue Return Receipt and Temp Log Fahrenheit	March 2025
Offsite Clinic FROZEN Vaccine Inventory Issue Return Receipt and Temp Log Celsius	March 2025
Checklist: Best Practices for Vaccination Clinics Held at Satellite, Temporary, or Off-Site Locations	Aug. 9, 2024
Emergency Preparedness	Date
Emergency/Inclement Weather Preparedness: Vaccine Storage and Handling	July 12, 2024
Vaccine Emergency Storage Plan Worksheet	Aug. 22, 2023
Vaccine Bin Labels	Date
Travel and Military Specific Vaccine Storage Labels	Sept. 17, 2024
2024-2025 Seasonal Respiratory Illnesses Vaccine Storage and Beyond-Use Date Tracking Labels	Sept. 18, 2024
Routine Vaccine Storage and Beyond-Use Date Tracking Labels	Sept. 13, 2024
Information Papers	Date
Cold Chain Management of Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccine	Jan. 31, 2023
Digital Data Logger Calibration with the Ice Melting Point Validation Method	Sept. 1, 2021
Infographics/Posters	Date
Do Not Unplug Signs	Aug. 12, 2019
Freezer Setup for Vaccine Storage	Aug. 12, 2019
Refrigerator Setup for Vaccine Storage	Aug. 12, 2019
Safeguard Your Power Supply	Aug. 12, 2019
Storage Unit Sticker Template	Aug. 12, 2019

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Publication

May 23, 2018