Abstract: A portable container (10) suitable for housing and protecting vials (Y) ampoules and other small vessels containing pharmaceutical or veterinary preparations such as vaccines, which are sensitive to changes in temperature or to relatively high temperature, is provided. The container (10) comprises a layered wall (11) defining a centrally located cavity (13) for receiving the vial (Y). The wall (11) includes an outer thermally insulating layer (12) surrounding a substance (14) for providing a passive cold source to the cavity (13) and two spaced inner layers (16 and 18) of a relatively hard plastics material providing an annular chamber wherein the substance (14) is received.