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Vaccine Temperature Log (Fridge and Freezer)

A one-page monthly log for clinics that keep both a vaccine refrigerator and a freezer. Each workday gets one line: the time, the current, minimum and maximum temperature for each unit, who checked, and what was done about any excursion.

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Vaccine Temperature Log (Fridge and Freezer)

MedSpaBinder

Clinic

Fridge (make / ID)

Freezer (make / ID)

Month and year

CDC: fridge 2 to 8 °C (36 to 46 °F); freezer -50 to -15 °C (-58 to +5 °F). Check and record min/max at the start of each workday.

Day
Time
Fridge now
Fridge min
Fridge max
Freezer now
Freezer min
Freezer max
Initials
Excursion? Action taken
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
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31

Reviewed by: ______________________ Date: ____________ Unit (circle): °F / °C

What CDC asks you to record

CDC's vaccine storage guidance is to check and record the minimum and maximum temperatures at the start of each workday. For each check it asks for the min/max, the date, the time, the name of the person who checked, and any action taken if the temperature went out of range. This sheet has a column for each.

If your thermometer can't show min/max, CDC's fallback is to record the current temperature at least twice a workday, at the start and at the end.

The ranges

  • Refrigerator: 2 °C to 8 °C (36 °F to 46 °F).
  • Freezer: -50 °C to -15 °C (-58 °F to +5 °F).
  • Some products have their own ranges, so the package insert still has the final word.

Tips that keep the log honest

  • If a reading is missed, leave the line blank. CDC's guidance is to leave a missed reading blank, not fill it in afterwards.
  • Reset the min/max after each reading if your device needs it, so the next reading covers only the time since.
  • Keep food and drinks out of vaccine units. Opening the door for lunch changes the temperature.
  • Keep completed logs for 3 years, as CDC recommends. If you're in the Vaccines for Children program or use publicly funded vaccine, check your state program's rules too.

If a reading is out of range

  • Don't discard anything yet. Label the products "Do not use" and keep them stored at the correct temperature.
  • Note the time, the temperature and how long it may have been out of range.
  • Contact the manufacturer and your medical director about whether the products can still be used.
  • Write what you did in the action column. An out-of-range day with a clear action is a normal record; an out-of-range day with nothing written is what an inspector asks about.

Questions

Can I use one log for the fridge and the freezer?

Yes, as long as each unit has its own columns and is identified at the top. This sheet is laid out that way. If you have more than one fridge, use one sheet per pair of units.

Is a digital data logger required?

CDC recommends a digital data logger for vaccine storage because it records temperatures between checks. Programs that supply vaccine, such as Vaccines for Children, may require one. The paper log is still where you show the daily check and what you did about problems.

Sources

General guidance, not legal or medical advice. Requirements vary by state; follow your medical director and product labels.