The National vaccine storage guideline – ‘Strive provides health services with best practice vaccine storage and cold chain management standards.
‘Strive for 5’ applies to all health services, including:
- medical practices
- community pharmacies
- hospitals
- community clinics
- aged care facilities
- mobile services
- outreach providers.
Health service providers can access resources from the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ .
All health services must have a documented vaccine management protocol and conduct an annual vaccine storage self-audit.
Cold chain management - guidance for providers is available to support health service providers strengthen cold chain management processes and ensure compliance with the requirements of the ‘Strive for 5’.
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All health services, including medical practices, hospitals, community clinics, community pharmacies, aged care facilities, mobile services and outreach providers using automated temperature monitoring and back-to-base alarm systems for monitoring vaccine refrigerators are required to follow ‘Strive for 5’.
Refer to Automated temperature monitoring and back-to-base alarm systems for vaccine temperature monitoring requirements.
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Health services must have documented policies and procedures for vaccine management. These should include processes for recording equipment maintenance, vaccine transport, and staff education.
Victorian vaccine storage self-audit -
A vaccine storage self audit must be completed every 12 months and more frequently where there have been problems with:
- equipment or
- cold chain breaches.
Use the Strive for 5, Appendix 2 - Vaccine storage self-audit to complete the audit.
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Power failures occur for many reasons. How your service manages a power failure may depend on factors including the cause of the power outage, whether prior notice was given, and the time of day the outage occurs.
In the event of a power outage or refrigerator failure, ensure you have:
- a back-up plan available and staff trained to manage power failures
- alternative vaccine storage options ready
- a portable minimum/maximum digital thermometer available.
Refer to the Strive for 5, Appendix 7 - Checklist for managing a power for managing a power failure.
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For outreach and mobile immunisation clinics, or emergency storage:
- Vaccines should be packed into a cooler and their temperature monitored while they remain contained within the cooler.
- Purpose-built vaccine refrigerators do not have freezer compartments. An additional refrigerator with a freezer section will be required for storing ice packs and gel packs for emergencies or when preparing a cooler for transport.
- Refer to the ‘Strive for 5’, Appendix 6 - Mobile and emergency for mobile or outreach immunisation clinics, or emergency storage of vaccines, to ensure vaccines are stored or transported within the recommended cold chain temperature range.
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National vaccine storage guidelines resource provides cold chain resources for health services, including checklists, vaccine refrigerator temperature monitoring charts, posters and stickers.
Cold chain management essentials
The Cold Chain Management Essentials video series provides practical guidance on cold chain monitoring and safe vaccine management. It equips immunisation providers with the practical skills required to comply with the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines – ‘Strive for 5’ and meet mandatory requirements for holding a Victorian Government vaccine account.
This series covers:
- reading and resetting the digital display of a vaccine refrigerator
- downloading temperature reports from a data logger
- completing a Cold chain breach report form.
How to read and reset the digital display of a vaccine refrigerator
How to download temperature reports from a data logger
How to fill out a Cold chain breach report form
Reviewed 05 January 2026