Storage and Handling of Immunobiologics
General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization: Best Practices Guidance of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
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Updates
Most of the 2011 language was removed because this content is now codified and continually updated in the CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit. This content included Storage Units, Monitoring Storage Temperature, Vaccine Inventory, and Vaccine Transport.
General Principles
Failure to adhere to recommended specifications for storage and handling of immunobiologics can reduce or destroy their potency, resulting in inadequate or no immune response in the recipient. Recommendations in the product package inserts, including methods for reconstitution of the vaccine, should be followed carefully. Maintenance of vaccine quality is the shared responsibility of all handlers of vaccines from the time a vaccine is manufactured until administration. All vaccines should be inspected on delivery and monitored during storage to ensure that the recommended storage temperatures are maintained. Vaccines should continue to be stored at recommended temperatures immediately upon receipt until use. Inadequate vaccine storage also can result in significant costs to replace vaccine inventory.
Storage Temperature
Vaccines licensed for refrigerator storage should be stored at 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C). Liquid vaccines containing an aluminum adjuvant permanently lose potency when exposed to freezing temperatures. Inactivated vaccines that are stored in a liquid state (i.e., non-lyophilized [freeze-dried]) but that do not contain aluminum adjuvants should also generally be kept at refrigerator temperature, although whether or not they lose potency when frozen is not known. Inactivated lyophilized vaccines generally do not need to be frozen, but lyophilized varicella-containing vaccines that are recommended to be stored frozen lose potency when exposed to higher temperatures because the viruses degrade more quickly at storage temperatures that are warmer than recommended (Table 7-1). These varicella-containing vaccines also can be prone to losses in sterility if kept too cold, due to increased gas permeability of the rubber vaccine vial (observed with use of dry ice at temperatures below -58°F or -50°C [personal communication, manufacturer]).
Response to Out-of-Range Temperature Reading
An out-of-range temperature reading should prompt immediate action. A plan should be developed ahead of time to address various types of emergencies that might require removal of vaccine from the original storage unit. Transfer of vaccines to a predesignated alternative emergency storage site might be necessary if a temperature problem cannot be resolved immediately (e.g., plugging in an unplugged unit or closing a door that has been left open). It is critical to avoid freezing vaccine during transport (improperly packing vaccine with ice can damage vaccines). Vaccine should be marked “do not use” and moved to the alternate site after verifying that the alternate unit is at the proper temperature. Determinations of vaccine viability in practice include consideration of both time and magnitude of temperature excursions and should be made in consultation with state/local public health departments or the vaccine manufacturer, as one or both of these groups may have additional information based on a broad international perspective. Damage to the immunogenicity of a vaccine exposed to temperatures outside of the recommended range might not be apparent visually. As a general rule, vaccines that have been stored at inappropriate temperatures should not be administered unless public health authorities or the manufacturer determine it is safe and effective to do so. If such vaccines already have been administered, vaccine exposed to inappropriate temperatures that is inadvertently administered should generally be repeated. Clinicians should consult promptly with state or local health departments in these situations. Consultation with CDC is available when necessary.
TABLE 7-1. Vaccine storage temperature recommendations
| Nonlyophilized, aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vaccines | Vaccine storage temperature | Diluent storage temperature |
| Diphtheria-tetanus-containing vaccines (DT, Td) or pertussis-containing vaccines (DTaP, Tdap) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
No diluent(a) |
| HepA and HepB | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
No diluent |
| PCV | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
No diluent |
| HPV(b) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
No diluent |
| Nonlyophilized, nonaluminum-adjuvanted vaccines | ||
| Vaccines | Vaccine storage temperature | Diluent storage temperature |
| PRP-OMP Hib | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | No diluent |
| IPV | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | No diluent |
| MenACWY(b),(c) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | No diluent |
| PPSV | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | No diluent |
| IIV(b) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | No diluent |
| Lyophilized (non-varicella) vaccines | ||
| Vaccines | Vaccine storage temperature | Diluent storage temperature |
| PRP-T Hib(b) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)(d) | 35°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
| PRP-T Hib-MenCY | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | 35°F-77°F (2°C-25°C)
Do not freeze |
| MMR(b) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)(d) | 35°F-77°F (2°C-25°C)
Can be refrigerated or stored at room temperature |
| MPSV4 | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)(d) | Data are lacking on ideal pre-reconstitution storage requirements. After reconstitution, vaccine should be stored at 35°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
| Varicella-containing vaccines | ||
| Vaccines | Vaccine storage temperature | Diluent storage temperature |
| MMRV(b) | -58°F-5°F (-50°C to -15°C) | 35°F-77°F (2°C-25°C)
Can be refrigerated or stored at room temperature |
| Varicella(b) | -58°F-5°F (-50°C to -15°C) | 35°F-77°F (2°C-25°C)
Can be refrigerated or stored at room temperature |
| Herpes zoster(b) | -58°F-5°F (-50°C to -15°C) | 35°F-77°F (2°C-25°C)
Can be refrigerated or stored at room temperature |
| Noninjectable vaccines | ||
| Vaccines | Vaccine storage temperature | Diluent storage temperature |
| RV5 vaccine(b) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
No diluent |
| RV1 vaccine(b) | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C)
Do not freeze |
The diluent may be stored at a controlled room temperature 20°C-25°C (68°F-77°F).
Do not freeze |
| LAIV | 36°F-46°F (2°C-8°C) | No diluent |
Abbreviations: DT = diphtheria and tetanus toxoids; DTaP = diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis; HepA = hepatitis A; HepB = hepatitis B; Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b; HPV = human papillomavirus; IIV = inactivated influenza vaccine; IPV = inactivated poliovirus; LAIV = live, attenuated influenza vaccine; MenACWY = quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine; MMR = measles, mumps, and rubella; MMRV = measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; MPSV4 = quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine; PCV13 = pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; PPSV23= pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine; PRP-OMP = polyribosylribitol phosphate-meningococcal outer membrane protein conjugate; PRP-T = polyribosylribitol phosphate polysaccharide conjugated to a tetanus toxoid; PRP-T Hib = polyribosylphosphate tetanus-toxoid conjugate Hib vaccine; PRP-T Hib-MenCY = polyribosylphosphate-tetanus-toxoid Hib vaccine with a bivalent Meningococcal vaccine; RV = rotavirus; RV1 = live, attenuated monovalent rotavirus vaccine; RV5 = live, reassortment pentavalent rotavirus vaccine; Td = tetanus and diphtheria toxoids; Tdap = tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis.
Sources: (1,2).
(a) DTaP-Tripedia is sometimes used as a diluent for ActHib.
(b) Protect from light.
(c) There are 2 meningococcal conjugate vaccines; Menactra is nonlyophilized, and Menveo is lyophilized. Both powder and diluent should be stored at 35°F-46°F.
(d) The lyophilized pellet may be stored at freezer temperature; the reconstituted vaccine should be stored at refrigerator temperature.
References
- Page last reviewed: July 12, 2017
- Page last updated: April 20, 2017
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