Protecting Vaccines During Emergencies
- Review/update your plan as needed. These written, documented plans remove the guesswork when you're under pressure.
- Familiarize staff with the plan, including after-hours roles.
Tip: Use provided plan template
Emergency Vaccine Management Plan (PDF)
Emergency Vaccine Management Plan (DOC)
Manage an imminent / current emergency
Questions? Contact us
Please report out-of-range temperatures.
Call us at 1-877-873-6247. Note: We may close during inclement weather. We'll return voicemail messages as soon as possible.
- Suspend vaccination activities. If possible, do this before the onset of emergency conditions to allow time to prepare.
- Shelter vaccines in place, when possible. Move vaccines only if it's clear you'll be without power for an extended amount of time, and it's safe to do so.
- Confirm where you'll get supplies.
- Store vaccine supplies off the floor to prevent damage from potential flooding.
- Use a monitoring/notification system during conditions that may cause power failure.
- Test equipment to ensure successful operation:
- Emergency generator(s). Review test log(s). Verify you have enough fuel for at least 72 hours of continuous use.
- Digital Data Logger (DDL). Use a CDC-recommended DDL with a current and valid Certificate of Calibration Testing to monitor temperatures. Place new batteries in your primary and backup DDLs.
- Review vaccine transport guide(s). Confirm you have appropriate packing materials for safe, temporary vaccine storage.
- Confirm staff is up to date on the Tdap vaccine.
If a power failure occurs:
- Determine the cause and estimate restoration timing. Vaccines can stay inside a nonfunctioning unit as long as temperatures are in range. Keep check of your DDL to determine when to act.
- Maintain thermal conditions. Keep the storage door closed until power comes back, or until you determine you need to move the vaccines. Keep a case of frozen water on-site to maintain temperatures and for transport. (Case = 24-count of bottles of at least 8 fluid ounces.)
- Prepare to shelter in place or transport vaccines after 30 minutes without power. If sheltering, pre-chill your on-site coolers. Ensure vaccines remain within the appropriate temperature range.
Don't wait to start emergency vaccine procedures. Act before refrigerator temperatures reach 8°C (46°F) or freezer temperatures reach -15°C (5°F). Take immediate action when temperatures fall outside recommended range(s).
Transporting vaccines?
- Notify the emergency back-up location. Consider the types of vaccine and storage capacity at the back-up location.
- Keep check of temperatures using the data logger thermometer during transport.
- Avoid freezing vaccine during transport. This can damage the immunogenicity, and you can't tell from visual inspection. Follow proper cold chain procedures.
- Document transport date and time. Monitor back-up refrigerator/freezer temperatures. Back-up units must meet the same requirements as primary units.
When power is restored:
- Record unit temperature as soon as possible.
- Keep checking temperatures until they reach appropriate range:
- Refrigerator: 2-8°C (36-46°F)
- Freezer: -15°C or colder (5°F or colder)
- Record duration of increased temperature exposure and maximum temperature observed.
- Separate vaccine exposed to out-of-range temperatures from new product. Continue to store at proper temperature(s) if possible. Keep in mind road conditions might delay vaccine shipments.
- Label exposed vaccine appropriately. Include date and time. Mark "DO NOT USE." Move to approved, working storage unit.
- Contact us at 1-877-873-6247 for next steps. Do not administer or discard affected vaccines until you consult with us. We'll work with vaccine manufacturers to determine if vaccines are viable.
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This page was last modified on 03/04/2025