Safe storage and handling of vaccines

Safe vaccine storage and handling is essential to ensure that the 'cold chain' that refrigerates the vaccine at a temperature between +2°C and +8°C is maintained from manufacture, through delivery and storage, to patient administration. This article considers the available literature on vaccine storage and handling. Although the UK provides significant guidance on the topic, global resources can increase understanding of areas that are not particularly clear for the practitioner undertaking cold chain management. It is hoped that readers will appreciate the importance of this subject not only within their own practice, but also on a global scale. The article aims to increase readers' confidence to review and enhance, or if necessary develop, a vaccine storage and handling protocol, thus ensuring the highest standard of care in this area.