Shipping & cold storage challenges
South Africa has recorded more than 1.3 million coronavirus infections, the highest number on the African continent, and more than 37 000 deaths. 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 health facilities countrywide.
Amongst all, AstraZeneca is the most suited one for the countries in the sub-continent as it requires average fridge temperatures of 2°C to 8°C. According to reports thus far, 20 million AstraZeneca 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. This is different for the Moderna vaccine, which 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 5 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 Forma Thermo Scientific range of high performance 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 temperature range 2-8 °C. For clinical and vaccine storage requiring -20 to -40°C, Thermo Scientific™ TSX Series high-performance 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, maximizing storage capacity from 30,000 up to 60,000 2 mL 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 & 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 feature easy-to-use data loggers with USB plug 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.
View the Thermo Cold Storage for safe and secure vaccine storage brochure here
More on freezers supplied locally by Labotec click here and you can check out our Covid-19 suppliers page here
Visit the Thermo Scientific page that details their vaccine storage solutions for all eventualities
CAPTION : Newzroom Africa @Channel 405 aired “Covid 19 Vaccine distribution logistics for Africa could be a nightmare” . They chat to Athisha Singh, Labotec’s Product Manager, and specialist for cold storage. Watch it here : http://bit.ly/3sXMD67
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 Celcius. If it is not so, the vaccine will break down and become unusable by the time it reaches the patients arm. This distribution might be easier for countries like Europe or USA, but may be a mammoth logistical challenge for Africa.