What to know
Proper vaccine storage and handling practices are essential for protecting patients by ensuring product efficacy and quality, preventing unnecessary revaccination, minimizing vaccine wastage, and ensuring a viable vaccine supply. Ultimately, adhering to vaccine storage and handling guidelines helps improve patients' health by preventing disease.
About the Toolkit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit provides valuable information, guidance, and resources to help providers store and handle vaccines properly. This information also applies to RSV monoclonal antibody products. The toolkit brings together content from manufacturer information, findings from scientific studies, General Best Practices for Immunization, and Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the "Pink Book").
Key Updates
The full toolkit has been updated on 7/14/2026
General Updates and Introduction
- VFC program requirements are highlighted using a dedicated icon.
- Some pre-existing general content and best practices (optional enhanced protection) are now CDC guidance (minimum essential action).
- The toolkit is now available as both a printable PDF and accessible web content.
- Clarified guidance on how VFC providers should use this toolkit.
- Added links to CDC's vaccine storage and handling training and related resources.
The Vaccine Cold Chain
- Cold chain requirements apply to RSV monoclonal antibodies.
- Certain vaccines (i.e., mRNA, most influenza vaccines) lose potency when exposed to light.
- Do not use vaccines stored outside recommended temperatures unless safety and effectiveness are confirmed by public health authorities or vaccine manufacturer(s).
Staffing and Training
- Vaccine storage and handling standard operating procedures (SOPs) should include additional topics, such as documentation of staff training.
- SOPs should be reviewed and updated annually and kept near storage unit.
- Updated guidance on the backup (alternate) vaccine coordinator role.
Vaccine Storage Units
- Updated information on acceptable vaccine storage units (e.g. to include models meeting NSF/ANSI Standard 456).
- Revised guidance for storing vaccines with different temperature ranges in the same unit.
Temperature Monitoring Equipment
- Added new guidance on temperature monitoring device (TMD) placement and use; Use digital data loggers (DDLs) for routine storage, transport, and temporary clinics and have at least one backup DDL or TMD.
- Added new details on Certificates of Calibration Testing.
- Added alternatives for storing vaccines without their original packaging.
Temperature Monitoring
- Revised guidance on how to handle temperature excursions.
- Clarified CDC's role following temperature excursions.
Vaccine Inventory Management
- Added guidance on vaccine ordering (e.g., reorder at approximately 4-week supply).
- Added guidance on expiration dates and beyond-use dates.
Vaccine Preparation
- Added best practices for safe injections.
- Added information on discouraging the practice of predrawing vaccine doses.
- Added several new sections of CDC guidance to help prevent vaccination errors, including instructions to store diluents and their corresponding vaccines together if possible, always use diluent provided with the vaccine (never sterile water or saline), never freeze diluents, and always check expiration date of both the vaccine and diluent.
Non-Emergency Vaccine Transport
- Renamed section to reflect guidance to avoid routine transport.
- Added that dry ice should never be used.
Emergency Vaccine Storage and Transport
- Added guidance to confirm the alternative storage facility can accept vaccines before transport.
Vaccine Storage and Handling Resources
- Updated and reorganized tools; moved some content to the Vaccine Storage and Handling Resources website
- Added a new Vaccine Storage Troubleshooting Worksheet
Disclaimer
Where to Find Current, Product-specific Storage and Handling Guidance
The source of vaccine storage and handling guidance depends on whether the vaccine is approved (also referred to as licensed) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or authorized by FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
- FDA-approved vaccines: Refer to the manufacturer's package insert.
- EUA-authorized vaccines: Refer to the EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers. More information on EUAs is available at: Emergency Use Authorization | FDA.
Note: Vaccine manufacturers may occasionally revise expiration or beyond-use dates after the release of the package insert or EUA Fact Sheet. These updates are typically communicated through the FDA's Expiration Dating Extension website or in a "Dear Health Care Provider" letter.
Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them. VFC providers play a crucial role in ensuring VFC-eligible children receive effective, quality immunization products.
The VFC Operations Guide is the primary source of guidance for VFC participants. This toolkit complements the VFC Operations Guide by providing background on many VFC storage and handling requirements and highlighting best practices essential for safeguarding the public vaccine supply. VFC participants are encouraged to implement all guidance and best practices outlined in the toolkit in addition to the requirements and guidance from the VFC Operations Guide. VFC requirements are marked with an asterisk throughout this toolkit.
VFC participants and other providers who administer vaccines purchased with public funds should consult their state or local immunization program (referred to throughout this document as "immunization program") to ensure compliance with all mandatory jurisdiction-specific storage and handling requirements.
Note: The terms "VFC-compliant," "CDC-compliant," or "satisfies VFC requirements" are sometimes used in equipment vendor marketing materials or on their websites. In this context, "compliance" and related terms may lead consumers to incorrectly believe that CDC or the VFC program has independently assessed and verified the quality of these products. CDC, including the VFC program, is not authorized to assess, validate, verify, or endorse the products or services of private companies. Should providers encounter this type of language in vendor marketing materials, please keep in mind that neither CDC nor the VFC program has validated any product or service for compliance with CDC or VFC program requirements or standards.
Additional Information and Trainings
- Vaccine storage and handling resources page
- Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the "Pink Book")
- General Best Practices for Immunization: Storage and Handling of Immunobiologics
- You Call the Shots: Vaccine Storage and Handling
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.