The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in many developing countries faces challenges due to limitations in existing cold chain infrastructure. Strategic planning and targeted investments can play a vital role in addressing these issues.
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed the largest-ever vaccination campaign in history. As of August 22, 2021, approximately 4.9 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide, with 34 million doses being administered daily. However, there remains a considerable gap in terms of vaccine procurement and distribution, as only 1.4 percent of individuals in low-income countries have received at least one vaccine dose.
World leaders have made commitments to ensure equitable vaccine distribution through initiatives such as the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), the COVAX mechanism, and various multilateral agreements. Nevertheless, vaccine inequality persists, with high- and upper-middle-income countries securing the majority of available vaccine doses, leaving others with limited access. In Africa, efforts are underway to secure 720 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to achieve 60 percent coverage by June 2022, led by the African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team of the African Union and the COVAX consortium.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted emergency-use listings for six COVID-19 vaccine products, including those developed by China National Pharmaceutical (Sinopharm), Pfizer and BioNTech (Pfizer-BioNTech), Janssen Global Services (pharmaceuticals arm of Johnson & Johnson), Moderna, Sinovac Biotech, and the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca collaboration (Oxford-AstraZeneca). Additionally, seven more products are undergoing dossier review by WHO as of August 19, 2021. Many countries have also granted local regulatory approvals for vaccines not yet approved by WHO or stringent regulatory authorities.
While COVID-19 vaccines come in various formulations, they all share a common requirement: cold chain storage. Storage temperatures can range from as low as -70°C (-94°F) during specialized shipping to 2 to 8°C (36 to 46°F) when administered. Some manufacturers are exploring more thermostable versions of their vaccines, but for the time being, countries must plan vaccine distribution based on the existing thermal stability profiles and available supply chain solutions.
