PHARMA FOCUS: VACCINE MANUFACTURING & DISTRIBUTION
Smart packaging increases vaccine transportation safety In the next few years, it is predicted the global demand for vaccines will be around 15bn doses. Traditional cold chain infrastructure cannot sustain both the existing need for temperature-controlled logistics and the surge caused by the requirement for COVID-19 vaccines. To provide a sustainable solution, Sofrigam and Logmore joined forces to create smart temperature-controlled packaging.
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ince the first batch of the soughtafter vaccines were released in late December 2020, their transportation and distribution have caused significant challenges. The complex requirements of these highly temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products have resulted in inevitable product loss (temperature-controlled vaccines cause regular waste), as authorities from the United States to India reported unexpectedly high numbers of spoiled vaccines. They weren’t alone, as public and private organisations worldwide have also been struggling with lost doses of COVID-19 vaccines. The partnership between Sofrigam and Logmore is proving instrumental in saving these vaccines from spoiling. The new smart temperature-controlled packaging – qualified by Sofrigam – integrates Logmore data loggers, which are built around QR code tags. QR code technology was invented in Japan and has been used for contactless payment for years. In terms of the packaging, the QR code tags measure temperature, humidity, light, shocks and tilt. Each new measurement refreshes the QR code to embed the data. Users simply scan the QR code with any smart device to upload collected data to the Logmore web-based cloud service. This service also ensures users can access all the vital information they require within seconds.
A SMART SOLUTION FOR SAFER TRANSPORTATION Global cold chain infrastructure could hardly support the volume of vaccine deployment at the end of 2020. This is despite substantial investments by organisations throughout the cold chain and logistics spectrum in meeting this critical moment for present and future vaccine
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Any smart device can be used to scan the QR code to upload collected data to the Logmore web-based cloud service
deployment. In addition to distributing vaccines, these organisations have to sustain the usual cold chain demand from transporting food, chemicals and other pharmaceutical products. “The volume is unprecedented. To achieve global herd immunity, the world needs at least 15bn doses of vaccines. That would be in an ideal world without any vaccines wasted at all. This makes it absolutely crucial to minimise the amount of waste,” says Erik Lehikoinen, Logmore’s global SVP of sales, who has a background in container logistics. The Logmore monitoring technology integrated into the Sofrigam insulated shipping packaging solution enables the temperature of the payload to be analysed without exposing
the inside of the packaging to the outside environment. This is ideal for vaccine deliveries. Laurence Labranque, Sofrigam’s VP, who has extensive experience in last-mile cold chain needs, adds: “Partnering with Logmore is
Did you know? 80% of the logistics costs borne by pharma companies for shipping products under the cold chain are hidden costs. 20% of pharma products are damaged during transport through a rupture in the cold chain. €35bn in medicines are lost annually due to temperature excursions during transport. Source: www.sofrigam.com
