COVID-19 Vaccination Provider

COVID-19 Vaccination providers MUST have digital data loggers (DDLs) to monitor the storage temperatures of each unit that stores the COVID-19 vaccine as outlined in the CDC Storage and Handling Toolkit.   

DDLs are considered the “gold standard” for monitoring storage temperatures for all vaccines. They ensure temperature excursions are detected, including the length of time a temperature is out of range, thus making them one of the most advanced devices to ensure vaccines are stored correctly and protected from unnecessary waste. Having a DDL provides valuable data that can save vaccines, prevent the ineffective vaccine from being administered, and prevent the need to revaccinate affected patients.

In addition to having a DDL that records temperature data, staff must check and record temperatures at the beginning of each workday to determine if any excursions have occurred since the last temperature check. Most DDLs measure minimum and maximum temperatures. If your DDL does not display minimum and maximum temperatures, the temperature must be checked and recorded at the beginning and end of each clinic day and you must review the continuous DDL temperature data daily.  Use a temperature log to record daily temperatures (samples below).  Temperature logs and DDL data must be kept for a minimum of three years.  If your DDL has limited storage of data, you must download and save it before old data is lost. 

The Oneida County Health Department clinic in both Utica and Rome are at a gold standard for monitoring and recording temperatures for all vaccines.  The clinic has a COVID vaccine, a private, vaccine for children program (VFC), and a vaccine for adults program (VFA) vaccine.  The clinic follows the CDC toolkit for vaccine storage and handling.  The clinic also has vaccine and storage site visits yearly from NYSDOH.