Advice and Information

Infection Prevention and Control

Vaccine Cold Chain

Prevention of childhood infectious diseases by vaccination has played a tremendous part in the advances in public health during the twentieth century. The priority given to the national vaccination programme is reflected in the record low levels of disease notifications and deaths from vaccine preventable childhood infectious diseases in recent years.

To ensure that this trend continues for future generations, it is essential that as well as emphasising comprehensive vaccine coverage for the childhood vaccination programme, the efficacy of the vaccines used must be guaranteed.

The guidance below provides detailed advice about the storage and transport of vaccines, which must be kept between 2 degrees to 8 degrees centigrade from the time of manufacture, to the time of administration. The people and equipment, that together keep the vaccines cold during that journey, are called the "cold-chain".

This guidance follows the vaccine "cold-chain" from manufacturer to patient and includes instructions for dealing with a breakdown of the "cold-chain" and gives details of the recommended storage conditions of individual vaccines and recommended storage equipment.

Ensuring vigilance at every stage of the vaccine "cold-chain" will enable vaccination programmes to continue to make a substantial contribution to improving the public health.

North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit

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The Vaccine Cold-Chain from Manufacturer to Patient: Guidance for the Storage and Transport of Vaccines	142kb

For further information please contact the Infection Prevention and Control Team.

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