Ken Fleming, president at Logistyx Technologies explores the logistical challenges of delivering Covid-19 vaccines around the world.
Covid-19 Logistics
The sheer speed of developing and gaining regulatory approval for effective vaccines against Covid-19 has been unprecedented. Transporting them rapidly and safely from manufacturing sites to vaccination centres and doctors’ surgeries across the world is possibly the biggest challenge the logistics industry has ever faced.
More than a dozen different vaccines have now been authorised for use in various countries with several more in Phase 3 trials, anticipating roll outs in 2021. Pfizer has stated its intention to produce up to 1.3 billion doses of its Covid-19 vaccine in 2021, whilst Moderna projects between 600 million and one billion doses in the same period. A total predicted capacity of 10 billion doses globally in 2021 means the magnitude of the task is clear. Managing global distribution strategies for a time-sensitive and in some cases temperature-critical product on such a huge scale creates considerable operational challenges. Many pharma companies and global carriers have turned to supply chain technologies including sophisticated parcel transportation management software to help ensure vaccines get to where they need to be in good time.