| Here are several important tips that you need to know about monitoring and recording vaccine temperatures with your digital data logger (DDL).
I. Identify staff members (one primary and several back-ups) who have some degree of technical skills with a computer.
II. Open and set-up your DDL if you have not already done so.
- Read the instructions, save the number for customer service and practice with the device. Get to know the buttons.
- Set the temperature parameters. Some DDL's come pre-set, you will need to double check that they are set correctly.
- Make sure that you have set the proper high/ low alarms for the refrigerators (HI should be set at 47°F (8.3°C) and LOW should be set at 35°F(1.6°C) the proper high/ low alarms for the freezers (HI should be set at 6°F (-14°C) and LOW should be set at -58°F (-50°C). And set your alarm setting to ON!
- Set the recording interval of at least one recording every 15 minutes. You can record temperatures more frequently, however you may experience more alarms that you will have to document and respond to on your temperature log.
- TIP - Check to see if there is an online video on the use of your DDL device.
III. Record temperatures using your DDL.
- Observe when the temperatures change in your storage unit. Are there times when there is more traffic at your vaccine storage unit? How does that affect your temperature?
2018 Vaccine Temperature Monitoring Requirement
I. All VFC Providers must have a DDL or (DDL probe) monitoring temperatures in all storage units that house VFC supplied vaccines, and at least a back-up DDL.
- Click here to view CDC and VFC DDL requirements.
II.
VFC Providers are required to record vaccine storage unit DDL temperatures twice daily on a temperature log for the refrigerator and freezer units.
- Click here to view VFC daily and weekly temperature monitoring checklist.
- Click here to download/print temperature logs in Celsius or in Fahrenheit.
III. Providers must record the min/max temperatures on the temperature log every morning.
- Click here to download/print temperature logs in Celsius or in Fahrenheit.
IV. Providers must respond to temperature alarms on their DDL(s).
- Click here to go to the VFC guidance on responding to temperature excursions.
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