Key messages
- For all COVID-19 vaccine cold chain breach information and action, see the Victorian COVID-19 vaccination .
- Use the Cold chain breach report form to report vaccine cold chain breaches.
- The Department of Health Immunisation Section will advise you on the steps to take after a cold chain breach.
- In certain circumstances, you do not need to report a cold chain breach.
All immunisation providers should follow the principles of safe vaccine storage management to ensure that clients receive effective and potent vaccines. The principles are contained in the National vaccine storage guidelines: strive for 5.
Cold chain is the system of transporting or storing vaccine within the safe temperature range of 2°C to 8°C (strive for 5°C – the midway point).
A cold chain breach is
- exposure of vaccines to temperatures outside the recommended range of 2°C to 8°C, excluding fluctuations up to 12°C lasting no longer than 15 minutes when restocking, cleaning the fridge or stock taking
- exposure to light as vaccine has been removed from the packet and the glass fridge door allows light to penetrate.
Cold chain breach reporting – standard procedure
For all COVID-19 vaccine cold chain breach information and action, see the Victorian COVID-19 vaccination .
First-time breach – reporting exceptions - you do not need to complete a CCB report form for vaccine that is:
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Actions required for first time breaches that are not reported:
You can continue to use government-supplied vaccines that have had a first time heat breach of less than 25°C for less than 6 hours, however you must take the following actions:
- Determine and manage the cause of the breach: this may include a power outage, fridge breakdown, plug pulled out, door left open, vaccines left on bench. Where possible, address the cause to reduce the risk of the event recurring, for instance staff education, place a sign ‘Do not unplug vaccine fridge’ over power point, lock fridge door after use, service fridge annually or after break down, contact the fridge manufacturer about a door alarm or raising the front footings of fridge, get a battery back-up for power outage.
- Document: record the date and duration of the breach and any actions taken
- Mark vaccine boxes with a pen: identify the vaccine exposed to a single-event breach by marking it with a pen so you can identify it if the same vaccine is breached a second time.
Always complete the CCB report form when the vaccines in the fridge have been:
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Prepare the required information to complete the form
 | How long did the breach last? Download the data logger* and calculate the hours and minutes the temperature showed 9⁰C and over. Record timeframe on page 1 of the form. *If the data logger is not working, estimate the time the fridge was outside of 2⁰C to 8⁰C such as:
Do not submit manual or data logger temperature recordings. |
 | Count the number of doses in stock at the time of the breach for all Government supplied vaccines, record this in the second column of page 2, of the form. |
 | Complete the table on page 2 of the form using this example below: Government-supplied vaccine only: Adacel (Example only) |
The following steps should be taken for any of the above cold chain breach scenarios:
- Isolate the vaccines and place a sign on the vaccine fridge 'Do not use or discard vaccines until further notice'.
- Determine the cause of the breach and, where possible, address this to reduce the risk of the event recurring.
- Download and complete the Cold chain breach report form as soon as possible and email to the Immunisation Section.
- Await advice about what to do with each vaccine.
Downloads
Reviewed 08 March 2022