Supporting Vaccine Distribution Across the Globe

In an increasingly complex world, the collaboration between pharma companies and supply chain partners has never been more important, particularly when delivering vaccines. It’s crucial to ensure that every dose reaches those in need, regardless of distance or challenges.

 

These life-changing drugs are incredibly sensitive, requiring precise temperature control to remain effective. They’re also at risk of damage from shock and vibrations, which can cause hairline cracks or worse. A single mishap can render an entire pallet of valuable vaccines useless, which can have a huge financial impact.

However, the importance of successful delivery goes far beyond; for every vaccine, there is a human waiting at the end of the supply chain.

The Impact of Global Immunization Campaigns

According to a new study led by the WHO, global immunization programs have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years. For each life saved through immunization, an average of 66 years of full health was gained.

These are more than just statistics. Each vaccine can have a profound effect on a person’s life. That’s why safe and secure delivery is so vital.

However, vaccine production and distribution is a complex and lengthy process that involves a meticulously coordinated effort across multiple stages. Each stage is critical to ensuring that vaccines reach their destinations safely and effectively. Campaigns are planned months in advance and large quantities of vaccines are usually shipped together, therefore a single error can have huge consequences

For example, the measles vaccination has had the most significant impact on reducing infant mortality, accounting for 60% of the lives saved due to immunization. This vital medicine often needs to be maintained at a temperature range throughout its entire journey to ensure viability. A cold chain failure can result in an entire shipment of measles vaccines being rendered unviable, which can lead to devastating effects.

From Concept to Patient

A vaccine journey begins with extensive research and development (R&D), involving , conducting preclinical studies, and carrying out rigorous clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy. R&D is a time-consuming and costly process that lays the foundation for subsequent stages.

Following R&D, the manufacturing process must scale up vastly without compromising quality. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing for safety and efficacy. Then, vaccines must navigate a complex web of regulatory approvals, requiring extensive documentation and clinical trial results for multiple jurisdictions.

 

Maintaining the cold chain is critical as the vaccine leaves the production facility, as vaccines must be kept within specific temperature ranges. This requires robust infrastructure, including refrigerated transport and storage and extensive testing and validation to ensure the reliability of the cold chain.

Central to this process is the choice of packaging. Companies must ensure their medicines are well-protected during transport. The selected packaging should sustain the journey, regardless of duration or the number of transit points, safeguarding vaccines against challenges such as extreme temperatures – both high and low. Additionally, it should minimize manual intervention and reduce the need for frequent loading and unloading at airports, where temperature excursions are most likely to occur.

Effective route planning and risk management is also key here and involves using advanced tracking software and IoT devices to monitor shipments and optimize routes. This helps reduce exposure to risks and enables proactive interventions.

On top of all this, pharma companies need to align distribution plans with public health authorities, hospitals, and clinics to ensures efficient vaccine deployment. Poor coordination can decrease public trust in vaccination programs. Geopolitical issues and natural disasters can add further complications. Contingency planning and robust, resilient solutions are necessary to address these challenges.

How SkyCell Supports Vaccine Distribution

SkyCell’s hybrid containers and software solutions support vaccine campaigns with precise temperature management, near real-time monitoring, and cutting-edge technology that can handle the unique challenges of cold chain logistics.

Our hybrid containers represent the pinnacle of Swiss precision engineering, with a remarkable independent run time of 270 hours, that is expended by its self-charging capabilities when placed in a cold room or truck.

It also boosts a record of less than 0.05% temperature excursions, all while protecting the contents from physical damage. Shock-absorbing feet cushion sensitive medicines from small micro-cracks caused by vibrations and impacts, essential for the safe transport of vaccines often delivered in vulnerable glass vials.

Additionally, all SkyCell hybrid containers are equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, providing a powerful worldwide tracking infrastructure.

Reach out to discover how SkyCell can support your supply chain operations.