Source: Ohio Department of Health
On May 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sent a communication indicating that provider locations enrolled in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program must use a digital data logger (DDL) to monitor temperatures in all storage units that hold COVID-19 vaccines; this includes units used for transport of COVID-19 vaccine.
All COVID-19 vaccination providers should obtain a DDL if they have not already done so. Due to supply chain delays and shortages, allowances were made in 2021 for COVID-19 Vaccination Program providers having difficulty obtaining DDLs. However, at this time, DDL supply chain issues should be resolved, and all COVID-19 vaccination providers are required by the CDC to obtain a DDL per storage unit.
Digital data loggers are the gold standard for temperature monitoring and help to ensure that all vaccines are stored according to the manufacturer recommendations. This adds confidence that all COVID-19 doses being administered in Ohio are viable and effective in providing vaccine recipients with protection against COVID-19 disease.
- Detachable probe that best reflects vaccine temperatures (e.g., a probe buffered with glycol, glass beads, sand, or Teflon®)
- Alarm for out-of-range temperatures
- Low-battery indicator
- Current, minimum, and maximum temperature display
- Recommended uncertainty of +/-0.5°C (+/-1°F)
- Logging interval (or reading rate) that can be programmed by the user to measure and record temperatures at least every 30 minutes
- A current and valid Certificate of Calibration Testing.
More information about DDLs for COVID-19 vaccines can be found in the CDC’s Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.
If you have any questions, your site has closed, or you would like to withdraw from the COVID-19 Vaccination Program, please call the Ohio Department of Health Provider Call Center between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1.844.9ODHVAX (1.844.963.4829) or email COVIDVACCINE@odh.ohio.gov.