EPM speaks to Rafael Teixeira, President of logistics suppliers World Courier and ICS about the challenges of distributing a Covid-19 vaccine after approval.
Covid map
Q: Are logistical providers currently prepared to distribute a Covid-19 vaccine? If not, what are the challenges they have to overcome?
RT: There’s a tremendous amount of work and collaboration that will go into the safe and efficient deployment of a vaccine at such an immense scale worldwide. This will be the fastest timeline a vaccine has ever come to market and billions of doses will need to be shipped to countries across the globe. Given the scope and speed-to-market requirements, the entire industry—from manufacturers and distributors to logistics providers and points of care—must work together and be prepared to support the transport, storage and distribution of a vaccine.
As an end-to-end global specialty logistics provider, one area we are focused on is the demand for cold chain solutions to support these products. It’s been well-documented that a couple of the key vaccine candidates may require frozen (-20°C) or deep frozen (-70°C) transport and storage solutions to support their specific temperature-sensitive needs. As such, manufacturers will need to work with logistics partners to identify the correct packaging and end-to-end cold chain maintenance, so the product remains viable throughout transportation—whether it’s being stored in a warehouse or shipped on an international flight. At World Courier and ICS, we’re actively working on operational expansion—such as expanding our teams in key locations—to support our customers’ requirements. Given the demand for temperature-control solutions, we’re asking our partners to reach out in advance to allow for some lead time for planning and implementation.