The COVID-19 pandemic is currently presenting the world with one of the most complex challenges in cold chain logistics of all: the rapid and safe distribution of deep-frozen vaccines in large quantities worldwide. Vaccines have always had to be stored and transported under special conditions to prevent them from becoming unusable. Temperature monitoring and the gapless maintenance of the cold chain are of great importance for vaccine distribution in the corona pandemic - especially for the vaccines from Biontech and Moderna. The stakes are high for everyone involved, from governments, regulatory authorities, pharmaceutical companies, logistics service providers to the general public - so the margin for error in the transport of vaccines is extremely small and must be carried out under the best possible conditions.
Vaccine transport – a logistical challenge
Vaccine transport - from production to decentralised vaccination centres - is a challenge that only runs successfully under the most optimal conditions. According to a CargoSense study, 25% of vaccines become unusable every year due to incorrect transport conditions or reach their destination with reduced efficacy. For this reason, special care must be taken with the newly developed vaccines against Covid-19: This is because they have to be transported to decentralised vaccination sites through a complex system of deep-freeze warehouses and means of transport - a multitude of sources of error that can lead to the ineffectiveness of the vaccine due to unfavourable transport conditions.
While logistical planning and execution is already complex enough, transport poses an additional challenge: Vaccines must be kept at specific temperatures from the time they are filled until they reach the end user, either between -20°C and -80°C or between 2°C and 8°C. Although not all vaccines need to be stored at sub-zero temperatures, vaccines that need to be stored between -20 and -80°C require both deep-freeze capacity in the storage and distribution centres and effective temperature monitoring. This is a particular challenge that requires a gapless cold chain with strict temperature controls to ensure the shelf life and efficacy of the vaccines.
Perfect temperature warning system required
The sensitive Covid19 vaccines require a 100% controlled cold chain with necessary temperature warning systems at all stages of the supply chain. Ultimately, a reliable system is needed to continuously monitor temperatures without interference from human error. Read our white paper „Covid 19 – Vaccine Distribution System“ to find out how successful vaccine distribution can be achieved and what prerequisites need to be created to establish an effective temperature warning system in the corona vaccine transport cold chain.
The white paper is available for free download here.