Researchers internationally are running across the clock to discover a vaccine towards SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the pandemic. The global efforts to develop vaccines is now at a peak as the World Health Organization says 173 countries are engaging in the development of the vaccine. At the moment, India’s two vaccine candidates are at phase I and II clinical human trials in India.
India’s first COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin has been developed by Bharat BioTech, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV). Another vaccine developed by the means of Zydus Cadila.
Serum Institute of India has obtained the approval to begin Phase II and III human clinical trials of vaccine with the aid of using University of Oxford and AstraZeneca in India. British Swedish company has partnered with SII to manufacture vaccines for India and other middle income countries.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) gave approval to Bharat BioTech to conduct a separate clinical trial of their vaccine ‘Covaxin’ through the skin. Presently, the vaccine was being tested through an intramuscular route, where it is injected directly into the muscle.
Bharat Biotech is presently conducting a phase I/II clinical trial of Covaxin on 1,125 patients at 12 hospitals across nation, which include All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and Patna, King George Hospital in Visakhapatnam, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad and PGIMS in Rohtak.
The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 deliberated on conceptualization and implementation mechanisms for introduction of a digital infrastructure for stock control and shipping mechanism of the vaccine together with monitoring of vaccination technique with unique recognition on closing mile shipping.
They analysed vast parameters guiding the choice of COVID-19 vaccine candidates for the united states of america and sought inputs from Standing Technical Sub-Committee of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). The group delved at the procurement mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccine, together with each indigenous and worldwide production in conjunction with guiding ideas for prioritization of populace organizations for vaccination.
There are a lot of speculations and talks happening around the capabilities of the logistics sector to handle the supply chain of vaccines once ready. We can see the preparations at various levels. DHL Global Forwarding has opened its first temperature-controlled facility in India at Hyderabad to solve the rising demand for reliable cold chain transport.
Companies specializing in making temperature controlled packaging containers like Envirotainer SkyCell, va-Q-tec, DoKasch etc. are making ready to satisfy the cold-container requirement for the vaccine. From manufacturing and preconditioning to very last delivery.
Logistics, trucking, warehousing, first mile and last mile deliveries will have to work closely to create a smooth supply chain process.
Digitization will play a principal function in developing the transparency that might be had to display the integrity of the vaccine throughout delivery chains. We can also see new technology of drones deliveries coming into the cold chain system as companies in the USA and Europe have successfully tested it for the last-mile deliveries.
India’s cold chain sector is aware of the demand and they are getting ready for the upcoming challenges with solutions.