Infection Control for Professionals

How Do I Safely Use a Multi-Dose Vaccine Vial?

There are infection control steps you must take to use multi-dose vials safely, reduce the chance of contamination, and protect patients. Always prepare a multi-dose vial in a space that is clean and away from patients where you can safely draw up the doses and prepare the vaccine.

1. Do not bring multi-dose vials into spaces where patients are, like a vaccination station where the patient is getting the shot or into a patient room.
2. Before touching any vials, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water.
3. Make sure that the label says it is a multi-dose vial and check for the expiration date. If the date has passed, do not use it.
4. Always use a brand-new, sterile needle and a brand-new, sterile syringe for every vaccine dose. You should never use a needle or syringe that has been used on a patient.
5. Clean the top part of the vial, where you will stick the needle in, by rubbing it with a sterile alcohol prep pad. Let the alcohol dry before you stick a needle into the vial to kill things like bacteria, fungus, and viruses on the outside that the needle can pick up as you push it in.
6. Follow the vaccine maker’s instructions for how long you can use the vaccine after you first access it, and when it should be thrown away.  If there is an extra full dose of vaccine left in a vial, and you are still within the time that it can be used, you can use that dose on a patient.  Throw the vial away if there is some vaccine left, but not enough for a full dose. Never “pool” or mix vaccine from different vials to try to make one full dose.
7. Always follow the vaccine maker’s instructions for how to store vaccine so that it doesn’t spoil or stop working.