Managing light sensitive vaccines during vaccine storage
Advice for Immunisation providers – February 2015

Vaccine exposure to light

Sunlight and UV (fluorescent) light exposure may cause loss of potency and effectiveness in vaccines. Therefore these products should be protected from light exposure at all times during storage until the vaccines are administered.

Check the product information (PI)

The PI states if the vaccine requires protection from light in the ‘Storage conditions.’ This statement is made on the PI for many vaccines used on the National Immunisation Program. Some examples are Infanrix hexa®, RotaTeq®, Menitorix®, M-M-R-II®, Priorix®, Priorix-Tetra®, Varilrix®, Varivax®, Vaxigrip®, Gardasil® and Infanrix IPV®.

Vaccine packaging

Immunisation providers should store all vaccines in their packaging to protect the vaccine from:

·  exposure to sunlight and UV light

·  temperature fluctuations

·  possible breach of sterility

·  tamper proofing

·  vaccine error administration

Purpose built vaccine fridges

Purpose built vaccine fridges with a glass door increase the risk of light exposure to vaccines if the vaccines are removed from their original packaging.

Immunisation providers need to consider the volume of vaccines they store during peak times, such as during flu season. The fridge must have adequate capacity to store one month’s use of vaccine stock in original packaging. The immunisation provider may require more than one vaccine fridge.

Outreach immunisation sessions

Ideally immunisation providers need to use a portable cooler with sufficient capacity to transport vaccine in its original packaging.

In the case of mass school-based programs unpack sufficient vaccine to be used on the day of immunisation. Place vaccine in opaque containers before the vaccine is administered.

Report a light exposure vaccine breach

1.  Download the cold chain breach (CCB) form from the Immunisation Section, Department of Health & Human Services at docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc/Cold-Chain-Breach-(CCB)-Report-form>.

2.  Complete the CCB form and return by:

·  Email:

·  Fax 1300 768 088

3.  While awaiting advice label vaccine ‘do not use’, isolate the vaccine and do not administer the vaccine.

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1300 882 008, using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, February, 2015.
Available at www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation

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