WHO's Guidelines for international packaging and shipping of vaccines set out information and requirements for the international shipment of vaccines to countries implementing national immunization programmes as part of the WHOs Expanded Programme on Immunization. The guidelines address four key areas:

• insulated packaging standards
• storage volume standards
• labeling and packaging standards
• standard shipping procedures

These (WHO) guidelines continue to be some of the most widely used guidelines in the field of immunization. They are referenced by UNICEF and PAHO in all their invitations to bid to supply vaccines and also by countries that procure their vaccines directly from suppliers.

Guidelines on the international packaging and shipping of vaccines were first published in 1990. They have been revised four times since then: in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2005.

The 6th edition of the guidelines — which was made available for public consultation in 2019 and 2020 — replaces all previous versions and incorporates a number of important revision, all of which are listed in the Revision History on page 164.

WHO will organize webinars in Q1 2021 to explain to stakeholders the principal revisions in the 6th edition and to present the implementation timelines.

WHO recommends that all United Nations (UN) procurement agencies include the Guidelines on the international packaging and shipping of vaccines as part of the technical specifications and requirements in their invitations to bid.  

WHO thanks all individuals, organizations, national regulatory authorities and industry members for their contribution to the revised guidelines.