Storage and Handling

Proper vaccine storage and handling practices play a very important role in protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Failure to store and handle vaccines properly can reduce vaccine potency, resulting in inadequate immune responses in patients and poor protection against disease.

For specific, detailed storage and handling protocols for individual vaccine products, always refer to the manufacturers’ product information or contact the manufacturer.

For CDC's storage and handling recommendations and best practices, go to CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.

If you would like additional training on Expiration Dates, Beyond-Use Date, and Beyond-Use Time, go to Storing and Handling Vaccines.

If you are new to storage and handling and would like to take an online training, go to: You Call the Shots, Vaccine Storage and Handling module.