Vaccine Storage and Handling

The California Department of Public Heath Immunization Branch has many training and information resources for providers to help them effectively store and manage their vaccine inventory.

EZIZ Online Immunization Skills Curriculum

The EZIZ Online Immunization Skills Curriculum has three lessons on storage and handling:

1. In the Storing Vaccines lesson you will learn how to:
• Prepare refrigerators and freezers before storing vaccine in them
• Organize vaccines for effective inventory management
• Store vaccines in refrigerators and freezers
• Avoid having expired vaccines
• Avoid accidental power loss to vaccine storage units
• Safeguard refrigerator and freezer power supplies
2. In the Monitoring Refrigerator Temperatures lesson you will learn how to:
• Read a vaccine thermometer
• Identify recommended temperatures for vaccine refrigerators
• Identify temperatures that are not acceptable for vaccines stored in refrigerators
• Respond appropriately to temperature readings that indicate that the vaccine may have been stored at temperatures that are too low or too high
• Record temperatures on a vaccine refrigerator temperature log
3. In the Monitoring Freezer Temperatures lesson you will learn how to:
• Identify recommended temperatures for vaccine freezers
• Identify temperatures that are not acceptable for vaccines stored in freezers
• Respond appropriately to temperature readings that indicate that the vaccine may have been stored at temperatures that are too high
• Record vaccine temperatures on a vaccine freezer temperature log

Vaccine Storage and Handling Job Aids

Below are vaccine storage and handling job aids available on EZIZ.  All job aids are in PDF format and open in a new window unless otherwise specified. 

Refrigerator and Freezer Setup

Monitoring Temperatures

Transporting Vaccines

Inventory

California VFC Equipment Requirements