For mass vaccination efforts or for the delivery of vaccines across the world, the logistics are imperative. For storage as well as transportation of vaccines right from the manufacturer to the patient, the right temperature conditions are quintessential.

Here’s vaccine cold chain’s role comes into existence. The large-scale immunization efforts become successful only by having a dependable and safe supply chain that systematically stores & transports the vaccines to different locations at desired temperatures.

What does the vaccine cold chain mean?

The vaccines are required to be placed in the right environment that must not be too cold or too hot. The reason for it is that the active ingredients of the vaccine may become ineffective and degrade in its quality.

After manufacturing the vaccine dose, it is required to move to clinics, immunization programs, and health centers across the world. For this, vaccine cold chains are established that keep the vaccines with vaccine carrier box, cold rooms, cold boxes, freezers, carriers, refrigerators, and many more. 

It is basically done to keep these vaccines effective by carrying them at the right temperature so that the vaccines remain the same in quality even on the long journey that it passes from manufacturing to finally being injected into the body via a syringe.    

So, vaccine cold chains preserve the right temperature consistently from manufacturing to the final delivery of refrigerated vaccines to health care centers. The optimal temperature range of vaccines ideally lies from 2°C to 8°C is maintained by these cold chains even at each stop the stakeholder has to monitor the right temperature for vaccines so that they do not lose their efficiency.

In case the vaccine’s temperature is not monitored, then it may result in:

• Waste of money and the product
• Loss of potency & Effectiveness
• Substandard immunologic responses
• Degradation of formula

If anyhow, the patients got vaccinated with that deteriorated vaccine then they are required to re-immunize. Without the presence of the right temperature make vaccines lose their complete usability.

Why are these vaccines cold chains important?

It’s not easy as a piece of cake to deliver vaccines across the world. It needs proper planning and a reliable chain that can make it possible without losing the effectiveness of vaccines. Effectiveness here means that the weather or other conditions should not make an impact on its usability or output. 

By preserving vaccines in the right and consistent temperature, cold chains play a crucial role in keeping the potency of vaccines intact. It keeps them in good condition from manufacturing to final delivery.

With temperature-controlled surroundings or environment, a cold chain properly manages, stores, and credibly transports all such life-saving vaccines without any harm. The vaccines remain under desired temperature conditions and don’t lose their effectiveness no matter how long the distance is.

Right from manufacturing, it is stored at the right temperature until the actual vaccination. The right temperature is quintessential as too low or high temperature may make vaccines useless and let them lose their potency and once it happens then it’s a complete waste as the potency cannot be restored. So, cold chains & vaccine carrier boxes are quite necessary to keep the ability of vaccines intact.

• Preservation of vaccine stability

Once the vaccine loses its potency then it becomes ineffective in protecting the body from diseases. It further means high-budget projects or heavy amounts got wasted that were used to develop the vaccine. However, cold chains put an exception to such circumstances by preserving the potency of vaccines.

During transit, many temperature fluctuations & disruptions may happen that eventually impacts the potency of vaccines. In such circumstances, stability is imperative and cold chains preserve vaccine stability in a better way.  

• Right Environmental Conditions

The cold chains are quite useful in ascertaining and maintaining the right storage & handling environmental conditions required for the vaccines. Usually, the temperature management or temperature range provided by these cold chains is from 35°F (2°C) to 45°F (8°C), even though it holds the ability to provide low temperature as you require, i.e. -13°F (-25°C).

Consistent right temperature monitoring doesn’t just validate the safety & effectiveness of the product but also keeps it valid for the requirements of government agencies. So these chains are necessary for maintaining the right level of temperature.  

• Shield vaccines from getting wasted

Inadequate environmental or temperature conditions, inappropriate shipment or logistic conditions, and many other factors result in the wastage of about 50% of the total of vaccines across the whole world. The vaccine development companies lose billions of amounts every year due to the failure of their upkeep. The temperature-controlled logistics’ failures are major reasons for the same. Cold chains provide this protection to a great extent. It saves the potency of vaccines, saves them from getting wasted, and thereby saves billion-dollar projects of vaccine development.

In what way, vaccines are transported along cold chains?

A simplified process is followed for the same which particularly depends on the location of the manufacturing unit and the ultimate destination point where the vaccines are required to be delivered timely. If it needs to be delivered to other countries then vaccines are transported by plane to the country where it is required. After landing, they are first kept in cold rooms. From here, distribution begins via refrigerated vehicles to the regions where the vaccines are needed to be delivered.

The role of health workers starts from here. They carry vaccines in vaccine carrier boxes and cold boxes via motorcycle, car, on foot, camel, and donkey or via any traveling way to bring vaccines to patients living in even remote areas.

Transportation must comply with the standards set by WHO (World Health Organization). So these refrigerators, freezers, vaccine carriers, cold rooms, cold boxes, etc. need to be operated in accordance with the performance standards. Also, the stock management process or procedures are required to implement all WHO guidelines that are framed for each type of vaccine.

How does ZedBlox overcome the challenges associated with vaccine cold chains?

Each vaccine requires a different environment. Many vaccines need cold surrounding but if they get frozen then it loses their effectiveness. It’s not as simple as it seems. There are many challenges and you are required to clear these challenges reliably & accurately. The challenges burgeon in remote areas where electricity is a big problem. The non-reliability of electricity makes things even worst.

ZedBlox works on addressing these challenges with new & assured tools. We support the integration of technology in the way that is needed in cold chains’ efficient working and desired outcomes. We work on providing such lasting solutions that are even helpful in the long-term storage of vaccines. Also, our solutions improve your reach to health centers in remote areas.

• ZedBlox provides advanced supply chains with vaccine carrier boxes to fulfill unpredictable and volatile demands of vaccine distribution. We creatively adjust strategies related to manufacturing and transportation that provides you with a long-term agile, resilient, and proactive cold chain.
• The availability of reliable cold chain quality equipment is yet another feature that aids in beating challenges associated with vaccine supply. The fast-paced supply of vaccines needs top-notch equipment to further overcome any disruption in the transit. These pieces of equipment help in managing temperature quite well and keeping vaccines safe while transmitting.
• We adhere to vaccine transportation standards for the best outcomes. It ensures safety and reliability come what may.
• One of the major challenges is coping with last-mile delivery that demands constant monitoring. We are prevalent for this quality service that includes monitoring our shipments quickly and safely supplying them to the right location. Even in remote locations where refrigeration and electricity problems may bump into, we are here with assured & timely solutions so that vaccines can be delivered to the right place at right time.
• We provide proper control and management of vaccine cold chains throughout the world. Our smart strategies handle the problems associated with management appropriately.

We work on ensuring that our cold chains work efficiently and effectively everywhere in our country and in every other nation where we deliver the vaccines.

Final Thoughts

It’s not easy to monitor each vaccine on our own to keep it validated, safe, and effective. Each vaccine requires a different environment and temperature. Here vaccine cold chains are mandatory for guaranteeing the efficiency of vaccines in all conditions and circumstances.

These biological products need to be stored in cold storage units as these are sensitive to heat & cold both. The right environmental conditions are necessary for its effectiveness. The vaccine cold chains play a vital role in ensuring the potency, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines throughout the transportation from the manufacturer to the health care centers.