Prepare for storm season: Vaccine cold chain management webinar

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Last updated 28 August 2026
Prepare for storm season: Vaccine cold chain management webinar

Power outages, flooding and severe weather can put vaccine stock at risk. A free upcoming webinar will help general practices and other vaccine providers strengthen their storm season preparedness and maintain vaccine cold chain compliance. 

Brisbane South PHN is inviting general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses, practice managers, pharmacists and other vaccine providers to attend Be Prepared: Storm Season & Vaccine Cold Chain Management, a free CPD-accredited webinar delivered in partnership with clinicians from the Metro South Public Health Unit.  

Taking place online on Wednesday 9 September 2026 from 7:30 am to 8 am AEST, the session will provide practical advice to help providers prepare for and respond to weather-related disruptions that can affect vaccine storage and service delivery.  

Queensland's storm season can bring power outages, access issues and other disruptions that may compromise vaccine cold chain requirements. Understanding how to prepare for these events can help protect vaccine stock, reduce wastage and maintain continuity of care for patients. 

Presenters from the Metro South Public Health Unit will share practical strategies, real-world scenarios and lessons learned from supporting vaccine providers through severe weather events. Register to secure your spot for the free webinar. 

What you'll learn 

Topics include: 

  • preparing your practice or service for potential power outages and access disruptions 

  • implementing contingency plans that align with vaccine cold chain requirements 

  • protecting vaccine stock and maintaining service continuity 

  • responding to cold chain breaches effectively and confidently.  

Whether your practice has experienced a cold chain breach before or is reviewing its emergency preparedness arrangements ahead of storm season, this webinar offers practical guidance that can be applied immediately. 

Why it matters 

A cold chain breach occurs when vaccines are exposed to temperatures outside the recommended storage range. Severe weather events and unexpected power interruptions are among the most common causes of cold chain breaches and can result in significant administrative and operational impacts for providers. 

Being prepared before storm season arrives can help general practices, pharmacies and other vaccine providers to respond quickly, protect valuable vaccine stock and meet reporting requirements if an incident occurs. The informative session also helps your practice to meet and maintain RACGP’s Standards for General Practice (5th edition), criterion GP6.1 – Maintaining vaccine potency
 
Visit the event information page and register to attend ‘Be Prepared: Storm Season & Vaccine Cold Chain Management’. 

Helpful information

For providers looking to strengthen their preparedness ahead of the webinar, see our past news on vaccine management and storm readiness, including information on: 

  • what constitutes a cold chain breach 

  • preparing your practice for power outages 

  • reporting cold chain breaches 

  • responding to vaccine storage incidents. 

Read: Vaccine management and storm readiness. 

Providers can also access: 

  • the Cold Chain Breach Reporting Form for submitting breach notifications to Queensland Health 

  • the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines: Strive for 5, including detailed guidance in Appendix 3 on responding to cold chain breaches.