Many developing nations have little cold storage and lose much of their perishable food before it gets to markets. Climate-friendly refrigeration can provide huge environmental and social benefits.
Millions of dollars worth of vaccines are thrown out each year because they are not transported or stored at the right temperature. We made a video to help prevent that.
Solar energy is an invaluable resource in rural areas like this facility in Gambia.
Gavi/2018/Guido Dingemans
Cyrus Sinai, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Rob Fetter, Duke University
Solar-powered cold chain technologies can be game-changers in the fight against COVID-19 in resource-limited settings in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.
New mRNA vaccines use genes from the coronavirus to produce immunity.
Andriy Onufriyenko/Moment via Getty Images
So far, most vaccines in the US are mRNA vaccines. These represent a new technology and are likely to take over the vaccine world. But how do they work? What are their weaknesses? Five experts explain.
Australia’s expedited plan to start dishing out COVID jabs in mid-late February will call for NASA-like logistical organisation. And ideally, no more clusters of infections to distract frontline workers.
Getting vaccines to rural and hard-to-reach areas is critical for public health and ethical reasons.
Hector Roqueta Rivero/Moment via Getty Images
So far, the only COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use need to be kept frozen. But there are many places in the world that can’t support a cold supply chain.
Efficient shipping and storage could prevent a lot of wasted vaccines.
AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool
COVID-19 vaccines have very specific storage requirements that make shipping a difficult task. Two ideas – fulfillment centers and cross-docking – could help overcome some distribution challenges.
Dry ice pellets can be used to maintain the ultra-cold temperatures required for Pfizer/BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
A pharmaceutical supply chain expert explains the challenges of distributing the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna that need to be kept at very low temperatures.
Moderna’s new mRNA vaccine is almost 94.5% effective in large-scale trials.
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
There are two new COVID-19 vaccines that appear to be more than 90% effective. But what are these vaccines, and how are they different from those used previously?
The cold supply chain keeps vaccines fresh during distribution, but the current system is nowhere near large enough to distribute the billions of COVID-19 vaccines that the world needs.
Keeping vaccines stable.
Shutterstock/Rohane Hamilton
Inspired by amber and hard candy, researchers figured out a new, needle-free, shelf-stable way to preserve vaccines, making them easier to ship and administer around the world.
Vaccines need to be kept cold to remain effective. A lack of power in remote areas makes this difficult, reducing the reach of the life-saving pharmaceuticals.