Delivering a massive number of vaccine doses in a relatively short time is probably the biggest challenge the world of logistics has ever faced. Experts, refrigeration technicians, and logistics operators are particularly concerned about the temperature at which the vaccines against Covid19 must be stored during transport. It’s not easy to guarantee this temperature, especially in the last mile, i.e., the last step of the vaccine delivery toward the final destination.
The Pfizer vaccine, one of the most promising, needs to be stored at between minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 F) and minus 80 degrees Celsius (minus 112 F). More positive news came from Moderna, whose vaccine needs temperature around minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4F) to last up to six months.
In both cases, even though Moderna’s vaccine does not need to be kept at super-cold temperatures, like Pfizer’s, an increase in storage temperature would inevitably cause the vaccines to deteriorate. More precisely, Pfizer vaccines would only last 24 hours if stored at between 2 degrees Celsius (35.6 F) and 8 degrees Celsius (46.4 F), whereas Moderna vaccines would preserve their efficacy for up to 30 days.
A safe, responsive, and well-organised cold chain is, therefore, necessary to prevent trivial errors from jeopardising the success of the vaccination campaign.
Cold Chain: the key factor for a safe vaccine distribution
Refrigerated road vehicles, but also storage units and ultra-refrigerated rooms to ensure long-term storage of the vaccine once it has reached the final destination: this is what media and experts have already reported and widely discussed.
So far, not many emphasized, instead, the importance of monitoring the performance of these systems that must be ultra-performing to ensure a smooth, safe, and efficient distribution of vaccines.
Prevention is the path to choose. Inadequately maintained AC/R systems would not keep the required temperatures, would consume more energy and, last but not least, would be at high risk of breaking down. Not to mention the environmental damage that refrigerant leaks would cause as one of the elements that most contribute to the greenhouse effect.
We cannot afford errors like these: they would result in the loss of precious doses of vaccine, which are essential for saving lives.
For years, Errecom’s know-how and products have been appreciated from all over the world, not only as a perfect solution to AC/R problems but also for their ability to prevent them, guaranteeing AC/R systems the same level of efficiency over time.
Cool-Shot Ultra is the additive specifically designed by Errecom to maintain or restore the efficiency of all AC/R systems by avoiding or solving the Oil Fouling problem, a permanent oil layer deposited that acts as a barrier to efficient heat exchange. Cool-Shot can and should be used to prevent problems of this kind, ensuring AC/R systems to work efficiently over time and reducing costs, CO2 emissions, and risk of breakdowns.
Extreme Ultra, instead, is the ultimate leak stop developed by Errecom both to solve and prevent problems occurring in AC/R systems. Once placed into them, Extreme Ultra finds and permanently seals leaks up to 0.3 mm.
All Errecom additives are polymer-free, do not react with moisture and oxygen, and are compatible with all lubricants and refrigerants. They significantly reduce compressor noise and are safe for both system components and the operator.
We need to act wisely then, to avoid fatal errors resulting in life loss. WHO estimates that as much as half of vaccines globally are lost to wastage, sometimes due to heat exposure or vials breaking while in transit. As mentioned by
The Guardian, in 2019 alone, around $34bn worth of vaccines were wasted because of fluctuations in temperature during transportation.
It is not acceptable anymore, not in 2021, not now that the Covid19 pandemic has already hit us, our economies, and our countries.
We hope the research and studies carried out by Errecom over the years and tested in more than 130 countries will turn out to be a valuable contribution, in a moment like this. There’s no doubt our know-how can ensure high-performance AC/R systems to the cold chain and safe vaccine distribution for our people.
