The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ provide information for immunisation providers for best practice vaccine storage and cold chain management. The new guidelines, released in June 2019, and resources are available from the National Vaccine Storage resource collection.
The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ (3rd edition) 2019, have been updated to reflect best practice in vaccine storage.
All staff involved in ordering, handling, managing and administration vaccines are encouraged to review the new guidelines as changes and updates have occurred throughout the document.
NSW Health has also introduced mandatory cold chain training requirements to strengthen cold chain management in NSW.
Appendix 8: Monitoring temperature chart for mobile or outreach immunisation clinics.
Appendix 9: Management of power failure checklist.
General practices will be required to submit evidence that:
Immunisation providers using domestic fridges should purchase a new purpose built vaccine specific fridge within a reasonable timeframe. Your local public health unit can work with you to establish a reasonable timeframe for your practice to transition to the new vaccine storage requirements.
All fridges storing vaccines must be continuously monitored with a data logger before vaccines can be ordered. If the fridge does not have a data logger you will no longer be allowed to order vaccines until a data logger is installed and staff are trained to use the data logger and interpret the readings.
Please contact your local public health unit for further advice on 1300 066 055.
Yes, all immunisation providers accessing government funded vaccines must purchase a purpose-built vaccine refrigerator within a reasonable timeframe. Your local public health unit will work with you to establish a reasonable timeframe for your practice to transition to the new vaccine storage requirements.
No, there is no government funding scheme for purpose-built vaccine refrigerators.
No, please refer Section 4 Vaccine temperature monitoring devices of The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5' (3rd edition) 2019.
Please refer Section 4 Vaccine temperature monitoring devices of The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5' (3rd edition) 2019. Data loggers provide 24/7 monitoring of your fridge. They are extremely useful to determine the duration of exposure of vaccines to out of range temperatures.
Contact your local public health unit on 1300 066 055 or your primary health network for further information and advice.
At least one staff member must successfully complete the NSW Health Vaccine Storage and Cold Chain Management on-line learning module to continue to receive government-funded vaccines. However, it is strongly recommended that all persons responsible for ordering, storing, receiving and administering vaccines complete the on-line training module to ensure they understand the principles of vaccine storage. All staff should be competent in vaccine management in the event the person responsible for vaccine storage and the back-up person are away or in the event of an emergency or power failure.
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A vaccine fridge temperature monitoring chart is available from the National Vaccine Storage resource collection.
