Mass Distribution of Vaccines: How Vaccines Are Delivered to Lots of People in Little Time
February 13, 2022
The world is a big, big place. With over 7.5 billion human inhabitants, there is quite a large demand for the goods that make the world go round, such as food, clothing, fuel, and the other necessities of life we need to function properly. However, even with an adequate supply of all the required principles of life, human beings are unable to achieve their goals if they are sick with a harmful disease. As a result, the health of the 7.5 billion people on this planet is the utmost priority that comes before any physical object, as without good health there can be no progress elsewhere.
Now, you may be wondering: how on Earth (pun slightly intended) can we keep that many people safe? Well, the answer’s both easy and, well, not easy. In simplest terms, vaccines! Vaccinations work as a preventative measure, teaching the human body’s immune system how to fight off dangerous bacteria and viruses that aim to destroy our health. The more people that get vaccinated, the less likely an illness is to spread throughout a community or, in some cases, an entire population. However, while the power of vaccinations does indeed play a major role in ensuring public health and safety on a global scale, there is one obstacle that makes the question of mass public health just a tad bit difficult: how do we deliver so many vaccines to so, so, so many people in a short amount of time?
The worldwide distribution of vaccines is far more complex than you may think. Like your favorite fruits, vegetables, and meats/fish, the majority of vaccines are perishable, and if handled improperly, are no longer eligible for use. The delivery of vaccinations is an incredibly meticulous process, and there are many factors that play a role in determining whether or not the package will reach its destination on time, what climates it can sustain, and how many must be delivered at one time.
Many common vaccinations, such as the chickenpox vaccine, are developed near the locations that require them, and can be delivered to customers quite easily. Often short distances are being traveled, and there is no need to worry about maintaining the temperature of the vaccines as they transport them from one point to the next, considering the short time they’ll be in transit. Because these vaccines have been around for decades, the health system has adapted, and ultimately created a well-functioning, efficient system for distributing goods to each facility that may require them.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and a vaccination was created, the next step in combating the illness was determining a safe and efficient way in which the vaccines could be delivered worldwide, all while ensuring the vaccines were kept at a very precise temperature. According to Pfizer, the producers of one type of the COVID-19 vaccine, “As of January 2022, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is manufactured between 11 sites across five countries, including the U.S., Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and Croatia, and engages more than 20 suppliers.” In order to produce vaccines that, once complete, were scheduled to be delivered to nations across the planet, manufacturing centers were required across all regions. From locations based in the United States and those centered in Europe, each site produces vaccines that can be sent out to countries closest to them, therefore covering a greater surface area in a smaller amount of time.
Because the COVID-19 vaccines must be kept cold throughout their delivery, a process known as the “cold chain” is utilized by shipping companies in partnership with Pfizer. Pfizer defines a “cold chain” as being “how the temperature of perishable products are managed in order to maintain quality and safety from end to end in the distribution process.” This process is very similar to the manner in which highly perishable foods, such as ice cream, are delivered to supermarkets.
Unlike containers of ice cream, which can certainly withstand a bump or two in the road while in transit, the vaccines are very fragile, and are packaged inside sturdy thermal containers that regulate their temperature and maintain their desired position while being delivered. Every thermal shipper contains a “GPS-enabled thermal sensor”, along with “a control tower that will track the location and temperature of each vaccine shipment across their pre-set routes” (Pfizer).
As soon as a hospital or pharmacy receives a shipment of vaccinations, they have three main options to choose from concerning storage. They can utilize ultra-low temperature freezers, a freezer designed to preserve the vaccines for as long as possible. Once held within the freezer, the shelf life of vaccines is extended significantly, and they can last for up to six months. Another storage option, specifically supplied by Pfizer, is the Pfizer thermal shipper. These serve as “temporary storage units”, and must be replenished with dry ice over the course of fifteen days. The final option is perhaps the most common of the three: refrigerators! Many hospitals already have refrigeration units installed, so often these are used to store vaccines for up to five days. The temperature inside must be between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius.