Consultant Insight: Monitoring COVID-19 vaccine temperatures

[caption id="attachment_75099" align="alignright" width="400"] The global distribution of coronavirus vaccines will require the collaboration of all pharmaceutical supply chain players. Photo/WFS[/caption] Preparations are underway for the launch and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. According to a recent Seabury note, 15 billion global vaccine doses will be required, which the research firm estimates will require about 65,000 tonnes of air capacity. In collaboration with McKinsey & Co., a DHL white paper suggests that during the next two years upwards of 200,000 pallet shipments — representing 15,000 flights — could be necessary for global coverage. To monitor these vaccines en route, sophisticated sensors will be required to record temperature fluctuations and adjust container temperatures as needed. Indeed, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported in 2015 that 25% of all vaccines reach their destination degraded due to improper shipping. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article , spoilage rates for vaccines during transport can range from 5% to 20% because of poor temperature control. Forwarders, including the integrators, are stepping up with a number of temperature-controlled options. DHL Global Freight Forwarding’s Thermonet solution is available for air and ocean freight shipments. The solution is based on its SmartSensor RFID technology and monitors shipment temperature along the transportation chain at designated checkpoints. DHL also offers temperature-control monitoring solutions via its LifeConEx Both services can be tracked and monitored via DHL’s LifeTrack . Etihad Cargo launched PharmaLife, which replaces the carrier’s TempCheck product. The service focuses on two solutions. Global lease Active and Hybrid containers with PharmaLife Active solutions for premium, sensitive products. PharmaLife Passive Solutions will provide equipment and storage conditions with three specific temperature ranges: 2 C to 25 C; 2 C to 8 C and 15 C to 25 C. It will be available at 54 stations on the Etihad network and focus on key gateways including Abu Dhabi (AUH), Barcelona (BCN), Chicago (ORD), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA), Hyderabad (HYD), London (LHR), Milan (MXP), Melbourne (MEL), Mumbai (BOM), Shanghai (PVG), Singapore (SIN, and Sydney (SYD). FedEx recently introduced SenseAware ID tracking technology, a part of its larger SenseAware portfolio launched in the early 2000s. The original product tracks GPS coordinates, temperature, humidity, light and shock, while SenseAware ID's focus is on providing precise package-location data. According to FedEx, the ID sensor will be used for COVID-related shipments. UPS’ Temperature True is a portfolio of options that can be used by air and ocean. According to UPS, Temperature True provides “end-to-end monitoring and risk-mitigation procedures.” Options are based on temperature and transportation speed requirements. Of course, container companies such as Envirotainer and CSafe will also play a critical role. In addition to a variety of container options, CSafe is also testing technology that will provide end-to-end shipment-visibility capabilities. The company’s recent test, completed in August, was to determine if container readings, payload readings and pre-established alerts transmitted in real time during the shipment and matched the validated data the container logged. Meanwhile, Envirotainer has further expanded its network of stations by adding Beijing (PEK) to the list of e-technology network stations to support the rapidly growing Chinese pharmaceutical export market. The new station is operational as of Sept. 1. In addition to shipping options, vaccine packaging is a critical distribution component. There are a number of options, depending on temperature requirements. DHL, FedEx and UPS all have dedicated websites that recommend various packaging. Forwarders also offer additional options, as do companies like Cryopak, Veritiv and Sofrigam. Ready or not, the global distribution of coronavirus vaccines will require the collaboration of all pharmaceutical supply chain players, and most important to the process will be monitoring the temperature of the vaccine as it travels from the supplier to the patient.

Consultant Insight: Monitoring COVID-19 vaccine temperatures

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