Cold Storage of Vaccines (Cold-chain)

6.5.2 Cold Storage of Vaccines (Cold-chain)

Most vaccines should be kept at 0 to 8oC. Some vaccines, when stored for longer periods of time (i.e. more than one month), should be frozen. Other vaccines become ineffective if frozen even once. Some vaccines are not sensitive to freezing, but lose their effectiveness if they become warm.

The process of keeping the vaccine at the correct temperature from the moment it is manufactured, to the moment it is administered, is called the “COLD CHAIN.”

For many vaccines, if the cold chain is broken just once, the vaccine is ruined or at least less effective. There are a few vaccines that don't need refrigeration. These vaccines are called "heat stable" vaccines. For example, a new rinderpest vaccine is heat stable for 30 days.