North Dakota: Identifying Unreported Vaccine Storage and Handling Incidents

The North Dakota immunization program requires providers to submit monthly temperature logs to ensure that vaccine is stored at the correct temperatures. Logs are reviewed by staff to find previously unreported excursions. Data was tracked for a one-year period to determine if temperature log reporting should be required in the future. Data was tracked looking at frequency, vaccine viability, revaccination and whether it was reported to the state immunization program.  The immunization program determined that although monthly review of temperature logs is resource intensive it is beneficial to ensure that proper storage and handling conditions occur.