NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Theme : Health , Economy
Paper :GS - 2,GS - 3
Getting immunizations to every part of the globe is a difficult task. Many new mRNA vaccines are being developed for the various diseases, which require deep cold storage
To store, manage, and transport these life-saving items, a series of carefully coordinated actions in temperature-controlled settings are required. This is referred to as a cold chain.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- Management of Cold Chain
- Factors that lead to Sustainable Vaccination
- Digitizing the vaccine supply chain network
- Building better: Integrated Solution
- Road Ahead
Context : Getting immunizations to every part of the globe is a difficult task. Many new mRNA vaccines are being developed for the various diseases, which require deep cold storage To store, manage, and transport these life-saving items, a series of carefully coordinated actions in temperature-controlled settings are required. This is referred to as a cold chain.
Management of Cold Chain :
The success of any sustainable vaccination programme relies on many factors :
- A key factor is cold chain management because when this fails, the potency or effectiveness of the vaccine is wasted.
- Nearly half the vaccines distributed around the world go to waste, in large part due to a failure to properly control storage temperatures.
- In India, close to 20% of temperature-sensitive healthcare products arrive damaged or degraded because of broken or insufficient cold chains, including a quarter of vaccines.
- Wastage has cost implications and can delay the achievement of immunization targets.
- Here, India has strong foundations to build upon. India’s UIP comprises upwards of 27,000 functional cold chain points of which 750 (3%) are located at the district level and above; the remaining 95% are located below the district level.
- The COVID-19 vaccination efforts relied on the cold chain infrastructure established under the UIP to cover 87 crore people with two doses of the vaccine and over 100 crores with at least a single dose.
- This effort was supported by the government’s cloud-based digital platform Co-WIN, which helps to facilitate registration, immunizations and appointments, and issues digital vaccine certificates, highlighting the benefits of digitization
Factors that lead to Sustainable Vaccination :
- Electricity is the most critical component of supporting infrastructure for cold chains in addition to cold chain management.
- Cheap and constant electricity supply will help in reducing the cost and efficacy of vaccination programme
- Cold chain management is important because poor vaccine supply might cause the vaccine's potency or effectiveness to deteriorate.
- This includes Cold Storage network, deep fridge network, Cooling van and last-mile cod storage equipment.
Digitizing the vaccine supply chain network :
- The Health Ministry has been digitizing the vaccine supply chain network in recent years through the use of cloud technology, such as with the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN).
- Developed with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and implemented by the UN Development Programme through a smartphone-based app, the platform digitizes information on vaccine stocks and temperatures across the country.
- This supports healthcare workers in the last mile in supervising and maintaining the efficiency of the vaccine cold chain.
- The role played by supportive infrastructure for cold chains such as a regular supply of electricity cannot be underplayed.
- In this regard, there is a need to improve electrification, especially in the last mile, for which the potential of solar-driven technology must be explored to integrate sustainable development.For instance, in Chhattisgarh, 72% of the functioning health centres have been solarized to tackle the issue of regular power outages.
Building better: Integrated Solution
- COVID-19, which disrupted supply chains across countries and in India too, marks an inflection point in the trajectory of immunization programmes.
- As we recover from the pandemic, there is an opportunity for us to pivot to newer mechanisms that can help develop unbroken and resilient cold chain systems and thus augment the immunization landscape.
The integrated solution combines:
- Technology: Online real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage temperature to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
- Governance: Systemizing record keeping, upgrading logistics and encouraging good practices to ensure efficient vaccine logistics management.
- Human Resources: To empower the state cold chain network by building the capacities of handlers and managers at each stage of vaccine supply.
Road Ahead :
- The collaboration of India with the UN Development Programme and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, will help healthcare personnel in the last mile supervise and maintain the vaccine cold chain's efficiency.
- Need to focus on Improved electrification with a constant and cheap supply of electricity, particularly in the areas of last mile.
- Investment in Solar-powered electricity is needed.
- Investment in the Cold storage network reefer van to transport stock to the last mile is also needed.
FAQs:
1. What type of vaccines need deep cold storage?
Answer : mRNA Vaccines.
2. What is the Integrated way to build better?
Answer : The integrated solution combines:
-
Technology: Online real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage temperature to facilitate evidence-based decision-making.
-
Governance: Systemizing record keeping, upgrading logistics and encouraging good practices to ensure efficient vaccine logistics management.
-
Human Resources: To empower the state cold chain network by building the capacities of handlers and managers at each stage of vaccine supply.