COVID-19 vaccine: how will Africa keep it cold enough?

While we await the first vaccines to either arrive in the country via air, or under licence from local manufactured sources, there remains another obstacle. The so-called cold supply chain that needs to remain intact when delivering the COVID-19 vaccine to all corners of the country. The temperatures needed for preservation of the vaccine vary, and in some cases need to go well below zero degrees Celsius. If it is not so, the vaccine will break down and become unusable by the time it reaches the patient’s arm. This distribution might be easier for countries like Europe or USA, but may be a mammoth logistical challenge for Africa.

Shipping and cold storage challenges S

outh Africa has recorded more than 1.3 million coronavirus infections, the highest number on the African continent, and more than 37 000 deaths (at the time of going to print). To reach the population, vaccine delivery will need to travel from manufacturing facilities both local and international, then transported to storage and distribution, and then on to health facilities countrywide.

Amongst all, AstraZeneca is the most suited one for the countries in the subcontinent as it requires average fridge temperatures of 2°C to 8°C. According to reports thus far, 20 million Astra Zeneca vaccines have been secured by government for roll out in the first half of this year for South Africa. The Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine, from its point of manufacture to the arm of the patient, cannot be removed from a temperature of -70°C more than four times. Moderna, the third vaccine currently available, can be stored for six months at -20°C for shipping and long-term storage, and at standard refrigeration temperatures of 2°C to 8°C for 30 days.

In addition, local vaccine research is also underway with the aim of developing a vaccine for the COVID-19 “South African” strain that has five new mutations from the “Wuhan” parent strain. This is seen as a necessity as it is still being ascertained how effective the imported vaccine will be towards the current strain spreading in South Africa.

Temperature sensitive solutions for cold storage

Labotec has been at the forefront of delivering time and temperature sensitive solutions for many years. Their specialists have already explored the best options for the COVID-19 vaccine and there is a comprehensive strategy available for this. This includes equipment from the Forma Thermo Scientific range of highperformance freezers and fridges built for pharmaceutical applications and ideal for vaccine storage, Elcold freezers from Norway, and Thermo Scientific and Ebro data loggers for monitoring the temperature in-transit or between warehouses.

Thermo Scientific QC managed cold storage

Thermo Scientific cold storage products are designed and built to support the temperature requirements of pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturing, distribution, and storage worldwide with products designed to deliver safe and reliable vaccine storage while supporting accreditation and quality management standards. This range includes TSX Series high-performance under-counter lab refrigerators with a temperature range 2 - 8°C. For clinical and vaccine storage requiring -20 to -40°C, Thermo Scientific TSX Series highperformance auto defrost freezers are designed with features that support sample protection and sustainability objectives. The Thermo Scientific Forma FDE Series Ultra-low Freezers -80°C are powered by H-drive and feature four upright models, maximising storage capacity from 30 000 up to 60 000 2mL vials.

Elcold freezers meet the vaccine challenges

Elcold’s VAC freezer covers the Moderna and Pfizer Covid vaccines storage requirements and can operate all the way from -20°C to -70°C. Their important features are; high capacity & small footprint, quality for price where you will get a top-quality freezer, based on complex technology that is tried and tested with similar products in the market for 15 years.

Ebro & Thermo Scientific PDF data loggers for safe transport and storage

An accurate temperature history and continuous monitoring of temperatures is critical to protecting the vaccines, and dependable data loggers are less expensive than replacing wasted vaccines. The Ebro & Thermo Scientific range, featuring easy-to-use data loggers with USB plugs, are the safe and optimal solution for the monitoring of vaccines and remedies during transport and storage.

Given the cold storage solutions, the collective challenge of safe vaccine delivery to all nine provinces will still need a carefully orchestrated cold chain management strategy to ensure safe delivery of intact vaccines from wherever the eventual source.

LABOTEC (PTY) LTD

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