Optimizing Data Logger Setup for Vaccine Temperature Monitoring

Abstract

Accidental freezing of refrigerated vaccine represents a significant public and private healthcare cost. Freeze-damaged vaccines lose their effectiveness, putting communities at risk. U.S. immunization programs have strengthened vaccine storage and handling recommendations to mitigate this danger. However, current publications describing the setup of a vaccine temperature monitoring device allow for a range of untested interpretations. In this paper, we report on our study of specific temperature monitoring setup variables, including vial size, thermal buffer type, buffer fluid concentration, and placement of the probe-in-vial setup, in an effort to provide more definitive guidance on the selection of an optimal temperature monitoring setup and methodology for use in vaccine storage refrigerators.