7. The Logistics Puzzle

The Vax Files

In this seventh episode, experts discuss how the vaccine gets from the manufacturers gate into a patient’s arm and all the challenges in between. The episode looks at how transportation and storage has been planned and executed by the big international transportation players thus far. While there have been some pleasant surprises with smooth deliveries in some western countries, getting the vaccine to lower income countries will remain an ongoing challenge. Freezer storage capacity — both during transportation and at vaccination sites — will be a crucial consideration and this will only get more challenging as more vaccines get authorized and distributed. Meanwhile, with a very short planning process ahead of rollout, experts discuss the greater potential for human error when trying to keep the limited vaccine supply viable. Finally, experts discuss the need for better planning and investment around scheduling vaccine administrations, which has been the biggest unexpected hurdle thus far, particularly in the US.

Expert Guests:

-- Dr Prashant Yadav is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Global Development and Affiliate Professor of Technology and Operations Management at INSEAD. Yadav has with governments and global organizations to improve medical product supply chains. Previous roles include Strategy Leader-Supply Chain at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Chair of the Market Dynamics Advisory Group of the Global Fund.

-- Professor Hani S. Mahmassani is Director at the Northwestern University Transportation Center and William A. Patterson Distinguished Chair in Transportation. He specializes in multimodal transportation systems analysis, large-scale human infrastructure systems, and real-time operation of logistics and distribution systems.

-- Dr Gregory Gray is a Professor at Duke University and infectious disease epidemiologist with three affiliations: Duke Global Health Institute, Division of Infectious Diseases, and Duke Nicholas School of Environment. He was on the FDA advisory committee for vaccines and related biologics between 2010-2013.