Each vaccination service must have written policies, procedures and protocols in place. See Appendix 1 for help with writing a vaccine management protocol. A vaccine management protocol should include written instructions for the following.
Equipment:
Monitoring and recording the vaccine refrigerator temperature twice daily and after power outages.
Monitoring and adjusting of equipment e.g. data logger, thermometer (see Section 6: Monitors).
Equipment maintenance including servicing the refrigerator and data logger
changing the logger and thermometer batteries
checking the accuracy of the thermometer
cleaning the refrigerator (see Appendix 1: Vaccine management protocol).
Freezer storage for ice pack/gel packs (in case of power failure or outreach immunisation sessions).
Vaccines:
Ordering and receiving vaccines. For ordering procedures, contact your state or territory health department (see contact details on the last page).
Rotating stock so that vaccines with the shortest expiry date are used first.
Calculating vaccine requirements (see Section 4.5: Storage).
Storage of vaccines and diluents.
Vaccine transport:
Managing a power failure (see Section 8).
Packing a cooler (e.g. Esky™, Willow™, Coleman™).
Conditioning the ice packs/gel packs (see Section 9.2).