COVID-19 vaccines and the last mile

While we await the first vaccines to either arrive in the country via air, or under licence from locally manufactured sources, there remains another obstacle. The so-called cold supply chain that needs to remain intact when delivering the COVID-19 vaccine country-wide.

The temperatures need to go well below 0°Celsius, and in some cases down to -70°C. If not, the vaccine will break down and become unusable by the time it reaches the patient. While this distribution might be easier for European countries and the USA, it’s likely to be a mammoth logistical challenge for Africa.

Shipping and cold storage challenges

South Africa has recorded more than 1 million coronavirus infections – the highest number on the African continent – and more than 30 000 deaths. So far, it is hosting at least four clinical trials of potential COVID-19 vaccines, including the J&J candidate which will be produced locally. The vaccine will have to travel from manufacturing plants to storage and distribution facilities and then healthcare establishments.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, from its point of manufacture to patient administration, cannot be removed from a temperature of -70°C more than four times. This is different for the Modena vaccine, which can be stored for six months at -20°C for shipping and long-term storage, and at standard refrigeration temperatures between 2°C to 8°C for 30 days. Two doses of both vaccines are required.

Temperature-sensitive solutions

For many years, Labotec has been at the forefront of delivering time- and temperature-sensitive solutions with the Forma Thermo Scientific range of high performance freezers and fridges. The company’s specialists have already explored the best options for the COVID-19 vaccine with a comprehensive strategy.

Thermo Scientific cold storage products are designed and built to support the temperature requirements of pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturing as well as distribution and storage worldwide with products devised to deliver safe and reliable vaccine storage while supporting accreditation and quality management standards.

Labotec – www.labotec.co.za