Transforming Cold Chain Infrastructure using IoT for Vaccine Transportation

We are all waiting for a vaccine now as the COVID-19 pandemic is still on the loose. Once the vaccine is ready, the cold chain should be promptly prepared to transport it around the world to billions of people. This wouldn’t be an easy task. Considering the temperature-sensitive nature of vaccines, there is a high risk of yielding the vaccine ineffective once it reaches the destination. This will cause consumer safety violations and moreover, the economic impact will be huge. The experts dealing with the supply chain estimated the cost of a single shipment of pharmaceuticals to be worth up to $50 million. 

Currently, the temperatures and conditions of vaccines are checked manually at checkpoints throughout their journey. Cold storage managers are assigned to inspect and ensure the vaccines are packed and transported as per the standards. At the checkpoints, each item is manually scanned with a device to check their condition. The chances of

In this case, IoT is vital to ensure proper transportation of these vaccines. The risk involved, cost, and complexity of cold chain logistics makes it a perfect example of an IoT cloud-based solution. 

Currently, the temperatures and conditions of vaccines are checked manually at checkpoints throughout their journey. Cold storage managers are assigned to inspect and ensure the vaccines are packed and transported as per the standards. At the checkpoints, each item is manually scanned with a device to check its condition. The chances of human error are high in this case. Moreover, there is no guarantee that these vaccines were at the right temperature throughout the journey. 

A well-designed IoT solution can make tracking, monitoring, alerting, and auditing much more efficient and simple. Everything can be automated with no chances of human error. IoT sensors can monitor the temperature, conditions in which the vaccine is stored along with a real-time route map and send alerts to the management. Based on the data collected, cloud analytics can help in the optimization of cold chain logistics by helping them recognize issues. The management can thereby assess risks better and improve their distribution networks and schedules. This translates into better inventory control, high customer retention and financial gains.

It’s high time cold chain logistics incorporate IoT cloud-based solutions to ensure accurate delivery of pharmaceuticals, considering we are all waiting for an effective COVID-19 vaccine.