Understanding Alberta’s Vaccine Storage Policy
The Alberta Vaccine Storage and Handling Policy for Provincially Funded Vaccine establishes provincial requirements for cold chain management. This policy is based on the National Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines published by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and applies to all sites receiving provincially funded vaccines.
Policy Scope
This policy applies to:
- Alberta Health Services (AHS) Sites
- Community Providers
- Pharmacies administering provincially funded vaccines
- Hospital pharmacies
- Long-term care facilities
Key Storage Requirements
Alberta cold chain requirements include:
- Temperature Range: +2.0°C to +8.0°C
- Light Protection: Some vaccines require protection from light exposure
- 24/7 Monitoring: Alarmed temperature monitoring system required for sites with $20,000 or more of vaccine
- Documentation: Complete temperature logs with excursion records
- Equipment: Laboratory grade refrigerators required for sites with $5,000 or more of vaccine
Alarmed Temperature Monitoring Requirements
Alberta Health requires sites with $20,000 or more of vaccine to have an alarmed temperature monitoring system that:
- Monitors vaccine refrigerators 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with capacity to respond quickly
- Provides immediate alerts when temperatures deviate from range
- Records continuous temperature data for audit purposes
- Enables after-hours response to temperature excursions
ATEK exceeds these requirements with:
- Temperature readings every 15 minutes
- Multi-channel alerts (SMS, email, phone)
- Cloud-based data storage with unlimited history
- Automatic excursion documentation
Roles and Responsibilities
Vaccine Controller
Each site must designate a Vaccine Controller and a back-up staff member responsible for:
- Daily monitoring of vaccine storage temperatures
- Responding to temperature alarms
- Managing cold chain excursions
- Maintaining documentation for audits
- Ensuring staff training compliance
Alberta Health Services
AHS Province-wide Immunization is responsible for:
- Immunization program standards and quality
- Vaccine distribution from Provincial Vaccine Depot
- Cold chain incident assessment
- Quality assurance audits
Cold Chain Excursion Procedures
When temperature excursions occur, Alberta requires:
- Immediate Response: Document the excursion and secure affected vaccines
- Quarantine: Mark affected vaccines “DO NOT USE” and store separately
- Report: Submit cold chain incident report to appropriate authority
- Assessment: Wait for guidance before discarding any vaccines
ATEK automatically captures all data needed for excursion reports:
- Exact time the excursion began and ended
- Minimum and maximum temperatures during the event
- Duration of the temperature deviation
- Complete audit trail for regulatory review
Equipment Requirements
Approved Refrigerators
Alberta Health requires:
- Laboratory grade refrigerators required for sites with $5,000 or more of vaccine
- Domestic refrigerators permitted for sites with less than $5,000 of vaccine, with restrictions
- Bar refrigerators must not be used for continuous vaccine storage (8 hours or longer)
- Dedicated vaccine-only storage required
Prohibited Equipment
The following are NOT permitted for continuous vaccine storage:
- Bar refrigerators (small single-door units, not for 8 hours or longer)
- Manual and cyclic defrost domestic refrigerators
- Fluid-filled bio-safe liquid (bottle) thermometers, bi-metal stem thermometers, and household thermometers as monitoring devices
Temperature Monitoring Devices
Requirements for monitoring devices:
- 24/7 alarmed monitoring capability
- Digital display showing current temperature
- Min/max temperature recording
- Valid calibration certificate
- Downloadable data capability
ATEK sensors meet all Alberta monitoring requirements and provide additional features including wireless connectivity, cloud storage, and automated compliance reporting.
Training Requirements
Alberta mandates that all personnel handling vaccines:
- Complete initial cold chain training
- Receive annual refresher training
- Have access to written procedures
- Understand emergency response protocols
ATEK’s user-friendly dashboard supports training by providing intuitive access to monitoring data, clear alert management, and straightforward compliance reporting.
Quality Assurance
Alberta Health conducts regular audits to ensure compliance with vaccine storage requirements. ATEK helps you prepare for audits with:
- Complete temperature history logs
- Calibration certificates
- Excursion reports with corrective actions
- Equipment maintenance records
- Staff training documentation
How ATEK Supports Alberta Compliance
Continuous 24/7 Monitoring
ATEK monitors vaccine storage temperatures around the clock, providing:
- Readings every 15 minutes
- Immediate alerts when temperatures approach limits
- Complete temperature history
- Evidence of continuous compliance
Multi-Channel Alerts
When temperatures deviate from range, ATEK sends alerts via:
- SMS text message
- Email notification
- Phone call escalation
Alert recipients can be configured to match your facility’s chain of responsibility, ensuring the Vaccine Controller receives appropriate notifications day or night.
Audit-Ready Documentation
ATEK maintains complete records for provincial audits:
- Temperature logs with timestamps
- Calibration certificates
- Excursion reports with corrective actions
- Equipment monitoring history