Order, store and manage vaccines

COVID-19: Changes to Immunisation Program contacts

To maintain business continuity as a result of COVID-19, from Monday 30 March 2020 the Immunisation Program will implement an email-only vaccine ordering and enquiry arrangement. While this requires a change in practice and may cause some initial inconvenience, it is important that we are able to continue to provide an efficient vaccine ordering system and can respond to your enquiries.

• Immunisation Program telephone number — 07 3328 9888 will contain a recorded message with information.
• All incoming emails will be monitored during business hours and actioned or responded to depending on the issue.
• All the forms listed below can be filled out electronically and emailed, or printed, scanned and attached to an email.

Ordering vaccines

• Registered immunisation providers should complete the vaccine order form and email it to QHIP-ADMIN@health.qld.gov.au
• School Immunisation Program (SIP) vaccine orders — complete the SIP vaccine order form and email to QLD-Sbvp@health.qld.gov.au.
• The Immunisation Program team will contact you if there is a query about your order.

All enquiries about registering as an immunisation provider, email QHIP-ADMIN@health.qld.gov.au.

Storing vaccines

Vaccines are delicate biological substances and must be stored between +2 degrees Celsius and +8 degrees Celsius. Vaccines exposed to temperatures outside this range may have to be considered ineffective and discarded. It is vital that vaccines are stored appropriately in order to:

• ensure patients receive an effective vaccine
• ensure efficient management of resources (vaccines are an expensive resource that can be in limited supply)

• avoid patients needing revaccination after having been given an ineffective vaccine.

Download a copy of Queensland Health’s minimum/maximum temperature chart here

For detailed information about the correct storage of vaccines, please refer to the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’.

Reporting a cold chain breach

To report a cold chain breach (CCB) where the temperature in the fridge used to store vaccines has gone outside the temperature range of between +2°C and +8°C (excludes fluctuations up to +12°C lasting no longer than 15 minutes):

1. Isolate the affected vaccines. Do not use them.
2. Complete a cold chain breach report form. The person who noted the breach should complete the form.
3. Email the completed form to QHIP-ADMIN@health.qld.gov.au. Write ‘COLD CHAIN BREACH’ in the email subject line.
4. The Immunisation Program will respond to your email as soon as possible with further advice.

Discarding or transferring vaccines

• If you need to transfer or discard vaccines, complete a vaccine discard and transfer form and email to QHIP-ADMIN@health.qld.gov.au.
• Influenza vaccines – if you need to discard or transfer influenza vaccines, complete discard or transfer influenza vaccines form.

Vaccine delivery failure

If your vaccine delivery has not been packed appropriately or you believe the vaccines have been outside the recommended temperature range, do not use the vaccines.

• Isolate the vaccine delivery in your vaccine fridge.
• Complete a vaccine delivery report form and email to immunisation@health.qld.gov.au.
• Write ‘VACCINE DELIVERY REPORT’ in the email subject line.
• The Immunisation Program will respond to your email as soon as possible with further advice.

All other enquiries

For all other issues or questions, email QHIP-ADMIN@health.qld.gov.au.

If the matter is urgent, write ‘URGENT’ in the subject line and we will respond as soon as possible.