Yes. The GDL can be used under a dense canopy of trees and in most buildings with a basic roof (thatch, tin, thin concrete, tiles etc.) as the GPS signal is strong enough to go through these barriers. Please note that in these instances, you might need to be out in an open area to get a GPS lock before entering the covered area. The only places where the GDL cannot be used are underground or under a thick concrete roof (multiple story buildings, parking garage structures etc.). However, this should typically not pose a problem as most vaccinations will likely occur outside or in smaller buildings. Alternatively, the GDL can be placed at the entrance to the building and data can be recorded as the animal exits the building after being vaccinated.
How many GDLs do I need for a mass vaccination campaign?
The number of GDL devices depends on the type of vaccination event you plan on having. Ideally, each vaccinator should have their own GDL device to ensure that every vaccination can be captured. For a roving or door-to-door campaign, each vaccinator must have a GDL device so that each vaccination can be captured before they move on. The benefits of the GDL become evident during roving campaigns, as the vaccinators themselves can use the GDL without the assistance of another specialised data capturer. This therefore reduces the overall costs of campaigns and also moves valuable human resources to vaccinating more dogs. For a fixed-point / central point campaign, a single data capturer can record the information on a GDL while several vaccinators vaccinate the animals, but we would not recommend this as a lack of training and communication could result in confusion and missed data.
The GDL was developed by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) and the ‘Intellectual Property’ (covering the design rights, product name, and software) associated with the GDL thus resides with the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
