Vaccine Cold Chain Monitoring in Australia: ‘Strive for 5’ Guidelines and Timestrip Solutions
The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: Strive for 5 was an important document, published in 2019 by the Australian Government Department of Health. It describes the measures required to ensure safe handling of vaccines as they are subject to changing temperatures along the cold chain.
The Strive for 5 Guidelines
The National Vaccine Storage Guidelines ‘Strive for 5’ emphasize that vaccines must be stored strictly between +2°C and +8°C, with the optimal target of +5°C. However, breaches in this “cold chain” can easily occur due to:
- Power failures or accidental disconnection of refrigerators.
- Doors left open or poor seals.
- Inaccurate or infrequent temperature checks.
- Equipment malfunction or inadequate monitoring devices.
- Unnoticed temperature fluctuations outside business hours.
The guidelines highlight that:
- Temperatures must be monitored and recorded twice daily, showing the current, minimum, and maximum readings.
- Continuous temperature monitoring using a data logger set to record at 5-minute intervals is required.
- Any deviation outside +2 °C to +8 °C constitutes a cold chain breach and must be reported.
- All actions, checks, and calibrations must be documented and reviewed regularly.
Recommended Monitoring Equipment: Data Loggers, Thermometers, and Timestrip Indicators
- Digital minimum/maximum thermometers.
- Data loggers (permanent or portable) for continuous recording.
- Automated temperature-monitoring systems or back-to-base alarms.
- Timestrip disposable cold chain monitors — single-use visual indicators that show if vaccines have been exposed to unacceptable temperatures.
Supporting Australia’s Vaccine Monitoring Standards with Timestrip Indicators
Timestrip® temperature indicators address several of the risks identified in Strive for 5. These small, self-adhesive devices visually show if a temperature threshold has been breached.
How Timestrip Indicators Support Australia’s Vaccine Monitoring Standards
- Instant visual cue: The indicator changes colour permanently if the vaccine has been exposed to heat or cold beyond the safe range.
- No power or data download required: Ideal for transport, off-site clinics, or temporary storage.
- Supports compliance: Serves as an additional assurance alongside data loggers and twice-daily checks.
- Low-cost, single-use backup: Provides immediate verification when digital systems fail or are unavailable.
- Customisable thresholds: Specific models can be matched to vaccine sensitivity (e.g., +8 °C upper limit, 0 °C lower limit).
Integrating Timestrip Indicators into the Vaccine Cold Chain
- Attach a Timestrip indicator to each vaccine tray or transport container.
- Check the indicator before use — ensure it has not been activated.
- Activate the indicator when the vaccine is stored in the refrigerator.
- At every temperature check (twice daily or during transit), visually inspect the Timestrip for colour change or LED alert.
- If activated, isolate the vaccines and follow the cold chain breach protocol in the Guidelines.
- Document the incident and retain the indicator as part of the record.
By supplementing standard vaccine temperature-monitoring practices with Timestrip indicators, vaccine providers can:
- Detect breaches more quickly.
- Reduce vaccine wastage.
- Improve compliance with the Strive for 5 guidelines.
- Enhance patient safety through assured vaccine potency.
Readers are urged to consult the official guidelines for the most accurate information: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/national-vaccine-storage-guidelines-strive-for-5.pdf
