In rural areas, delivering vaccines is highly dependent on a flexible, cross-border supply chain.
In the U.S., vaccines are so readily available that we rarely consider how our lives would be affected if this were not, in fact, the case. In many other parts of the world, however, the shortage of vital vaccines is a real and ever-present concern. Transporting vaccines across the globe is a complex logistical process, and it is not impervious to the same hiccups that affect any supply chain.
Ins and Outs of the Immunization Supply Chain
Because it is so high stakes, the immunization supply chain is particularly reliant on end-to-end logistics systems, ensuring optimal communication along all points of the production and transportation process.
While there are many elements that define a smoothly-functioning immunization supply chain, from successful vaccine storage to meticulous temperature control, the most important thing about the supply chain is what it ultimately seeks to provide: an uninterrupted flow of quality vaccines from manufacturers to vulnerable populations. If the right product (in the correct quantity) isn’t delivered where it’s needed and when it’s needed at the agreed upon cost, the consequences extend far beyond a supplier’s bottom line.
It goes without saying that any shortage in the medical supply chain is cause for concern — but when lives are on the line, even the smallest snafu can have fatal consequences. If a country can’t cover the cost of life-saving vaccinations, thousands of citizens lose access to the care they need.
This year in Ghana, for example, an outstanding national debt to UNICEF resulted in a shortage of polio and measles vaccines for newborn infants. Although the country was able to pay the 10 million owed fairly expediently, there was a week in July during which nursing mothers were unable to vaccinate their children against these debilitating diseases.
When the regular supplier couldn’t pull through, Ghana focused on reconfiguring their flexible supply chain. Government officials transferred vaccines from hospitals with a surplus and reassigned them to areas where supplies were at a dangerously low level. This allowed hospitals to pull through for the week without their regular supply. Even still, if the shortage had lasted much more than a week, a devastating outbreak could easily have occurred.
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The Importance of the Cold Chain
When suppliers move vaccines from point A to point B, it’s essential that they’re kept at the correct temperature, generally between 35 to 45ºF. In countries like the U.S., maintaining a critical mass of refrigerated trucks generally does not pose a major obstacle. In developing countries, on the other hand, keeping vaccines cool while they’re transported and stored is no easy feat. Yet it’s an essential one: if the vaccines get too hot or too cold during any part of their journey, they lose their efficacy, and the entire batch is rendered useless.
Thankfully, as the immunization supply chain becomes more sophisticated, it is becoming easier to transport vaccines safely to even the most remote regions. From carefully designed cold packs to improved insulation, technological innovations are allowing more vaccines to reach their destinations in useable condition. While increased demand for new vaccinations poses an ever-present challenge to the immunization supply chain, with a little luck and a lot of logistical know-how, immunization programs across the globe will continue to improve.