Cold chain management

All WA Immunisation Service Providers (ISPs) and stakeholders responsible for the transport, storage and/or use of government funded vaccines should understand and adhere to:

• National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: Strive for 5,
• Guidelines for the Management of Cold Chain for Immunisation Service Providers (the Guidelines), and
• Complete annually the mandatory WA Department of Health eLearning Cold Chain Management Training Module. Each staff member is responsible for maintaining their own education records. However, please note that if an individual fails to complete the required training and report completion, the provider account may be subject to suspension.
• Once you have successfully completed the eLearning module, please report compliance by using the ‘Cold Chain Module Compliance Reporting Form’ linked at the end of the module. Please ensure to follow the instructions provided to upload your certificate and complete the form.

Cold chain breach

The cold chain is a shared responsibility that begins from the time the vaccine is manufactured and ends when the vaccine is administered to the recipient. This is described in detail in the Guidelines (Section 5. Cold chain breach).

Reporting of cold chain breaches is mandatory. See the Guidelines Section 5 for details on when and how to report.

Vaccine during transport and deliveries

If a breach occurred during transport:

• ISPs must complete the form attached to the TagAlert.
• Take a photo of the TagAlert
• TempTale Ultra data should be downloaded in table format.
• Email form or data table to Onelink at customerservice@onelink.com.au.
• CDCD will provide stability advice to the Public Health Unit (PHU) on transport breaches.

Refer to the Guidelines for further information on vaccine during transport and vaccine deliveries.

Report cold chain breach

All cold chain breaches (CCBs) involving government-funded vaccines after delivery must be immediately reported to the PHU in the region where the ISP is located.

• Report all expired vaccines via the expiry form here.
• Report all cold chain breaches:
  • For any sites within Metropolitan Perth, use the use the online version here.
  • Country WA sites, submit the cold chain breach form to the relevant PHU.

If the breach involves private vaccines, contact the manufacturer. If the breach occurs during transport from Onelink, refer to the relevant section at Vaccine ordering (health.wa.gov.au)

• Refer to the Guidelines (Section 5. Cold chain breach) for further information on how to report a cold chain breach or expired vaccine.
• Refer to the vaccine ordering webpage Vaccine ordering (health.wa.gov.au) for further information or contact your PHU.