Key messages
The National vaccine storage guidelines - Strive for 5, 4th edition, provides best practice guidance for vaccine cold chain management.
Strive for 5 applies to all health services, including medical practices, large hospitals, clinics, mobile services and outreach providers.
Cold chain is the system of transporting and storing vaccine within the range of +2°C to +8°C (strive for +5°C: the midway point).
A cold chain breach is the exposure of vaccines to light or temperature outside the recommended range of +2°C to +8°C, excluding fluctuations up to +12°C lasting less than 15 minutes.
All cold chain breaches must be reported to the Victorian Department of Health.
Refer to Transporting, storing and handling for all COVID-19 vaccines on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Refer to COVID-19 Cold Chain Breach (CCB) reporting form for all COVID-19 vaccine CCBs on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Cold Chain eLearning modules have been developed to strengthen cold chain management and compliance with the Strive for 5.
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