Tackling the Covid vaccine logistics challenges with technology

Hospitals and health systems around the world have been snatching up freezers that are capable of storing the COVID-19 vaccines at the desired temperatures, as well as dry ice for shipping. These types of freezers are typically found at research facilities, rather than doctor’s offices or retail pharmacies.

Storage at minus 80°C “is very tough for resource-poor settings, and it’s tough for a lot of regular clinics in most communities.”
—Professor Kathryn Stephenson, Harvard Medical School

Pharma giant Pfizer is pioneering a large-scale operation to tackle the transportation challenges of getting its proposed vaccine to any point of use within days. Transporting the vaccines at such a cold temperature will also pose some logistical challenges.

The Pfizer plan

Pfizer plans to ship its vaccine in containers that can hold 1000 – 5,000 doses, with slots for dry ice that can keep the vaccines at the appropriate temperature for up to 10 days unopened, and then for another 15 days once opened. In this scenario, the dry ice must be replaced every five days.

We have developed detailed logistical plans and tools to support effective vaccine transport, storage, and continuous temperature monitoring. Our distribution is built on a flexible just-in-time system, which will ship the frozen vials to the point of vaccination.
—Pfizer Inc.

These temperature constraints don’t leave a lot of room for transportation delays, so shipping companies have been building out new infrastructure to accommodate the needs of the vaccine. For example, GPS-tracked packages with thermal monitoring technology will be used to record package temperature and location to enable transportation companies to work proactively to prevent risk.

The technology plan

Right now, companies are looking for supply chain and data intelligence platforms that can ensure optimized delivery routes, real-time tracking, high availability, and full transparency for every part of the transport process. This is remarkably similar to the ecommerce logistics model that has achieved operational excellence in the recent years.

Adapting this model for delivery optimization while ensuring that the vaccine stays safe and viable is the best way forward. Technologies including GPS, IoT, and AI can help make the process more effective and reduce risk:

  • GPS to give a real-time view of the locations of packages around the globe, to more accurately estimate delivery times
  • IoT to monitor the temperature of delivery packages and sending out an alarm if a package approaches a temperature that could damage the vaccine
  • AI to improve routing through optimization of delivery routes, building strategies for vaccine rollouts based upon highest-risk groups, and using data to predict the geographical areas that might need the most vaccine at any given time

All these tools together can potentially reduce delays in getting the vaccine to the points of delivery, saving numerous lives. A platform that does all of this currently does not exist. But efforts have been made by numerous organizations to achieve the best results possible. One of them is Tiberius.

Enter Tiberius

Operation Warp Speed, established to develop and deliver 300 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics is using an advanced data platform for the collection, correlation, and visualization of data across an entire logistics operation. The platform–known as Tiberius–uses data from federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the US Census, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), and the State Health Offices.

Tiberius integrates data from clinical trials, manufacturing, the supply chain, administration, and vaccine delivery kits (containing needles, syringes, and other supplies needed to administer vaccines), and the vaccine itself. The Operation Warp Speed team assists the CDC in reviewing state-wide delivery plans and making key recommendations, including directives on populations that should be first to receive the vaccine. These decisions are fed into Tiberius, which considers the logistical factors and reports on the quantities that should be allocated to every jurisdiction, and from there, to the points of administration to front-line employees, at-risk members of the community, and so on.

The Tiberius software delivers one-stop visibility into all US jurisdictions to provide decision support for technology-based distribution and allocation.

The information rollout

Because of the sensitive nature of the shipments, technology innovation will assume a fundamental part in guaranteeing the smooth execution of the plans put in place for the successful delivery of the vaccine. As with the data visibility required to ship PPE kits around the world, this situation will require similar transparency so everyone will be aware of status and availability. This will help agencies track and adjust supply to meet demand, preserving lives and resources. It will also help identify the weak links in the supply chain and improve them.

We currently don’t have an existing tool to help us achieve this, but there is hope. The ecommerce industry has made dramatic advances in logistics that will change the face of large-scale global vaccine distribution. Real-time visibility of shipments, AI-powered routing optimization, and forecasting can be the linchpin for helping rid the world of COVID-19 as quickly and effectively as possible.

The low-temperature storage and transport requirements of the vaccine are the biggest logistical challenge that faces its global distribution. Delivering to tropical areas where temperatures are way above global norms can be nearly impossible without smart, data-fueled planning.

Areas such as Asia, South America, and Africa will rely on advanced innovation to be able to safely import vaccines. Otherwise, less than 45% of the world’s population might ultimately receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Logistics, AI, and COVID

The logistics systems for delivering COVID-19 vaccines will be unique, complex, and of unprecedented scale than ever before. Advanced logistics, medical, and scientific expertise will be required—and the logistics services must be highly adaptable and responsive:

  • The variety and newness of the many vaccines being developed and tested will require considerable innovation in logistics capabilities to deliver them globally, adhering to different temperature requirements for packaging, transportation, and storage relating to regional distribution capabilities
  • Some segments of the logistics chain must be well-defined, established, and maintained systematically with compliance and integrity, while other parts of the chain will require frequent updates on the needs and flows of vaccines to respond effectively
  • The end-to-end information along the logistics chain must be detectable, observable, accessible, and readily available at all times, providing the information and reporting needed for optimal delivery under changing conditions

Even where circumstances offer limited quantity and quality of information, the IT tools deployed must have the capability to nonetheless deliver accurate, meaningful decisions based on mobile data, decentralized logistics, and expert services.

Adapting in the new economy

The world has changed in the last few months in ways we could have never imagined. In this transition to the new normal, technology has played a vital role in keeping everyone connected and moving ahead. Pegasus One has helped clients in essential industries like healthcare and education utilize technology to safely deliver their services. We can help you, too. Contact us for a free consultation today.