Cold storage will play vital role in vaccine roll-out
COLD storage technology will play a key role in the process once the government restarts the vaccine programme.
Health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo made the point in a written reply to a question from standing committee on health chairperson Wendy Philander (DA) about how the temperature control of vaccine doses and the two-hour lifespan of the vaccine outside of cold storage will work. Mbombo said: “The J&J vaccine has a shelf life of two years at -20°C and is stored at 2°C to 8°C for one month once removed from the freezer. All vaccination sites have vaccine fridges with back-up generators. Research staff are responsible for ensuring cold chain and drawing up the vaccines, which are calculated to be used within the two hours from the time of drawing up.”
Speaking about the importance of technology in reaching the herd immunity goals for the Covid-19 vaccine roll-outs, Ikhaya Automation systems head of business development Eckart Zollner said the use of the correct cold chain and storage management, including temperature monitoring and alert technology, was critical.
Zollner said: “The manufacturing, transportation, storage and delivery of temperature-sensitive products requires an unbroken cold chain. Cold storage is a critical component in the Covid-19 vaccine supply chain, and the massive quantities required could easily exceed limitations in refrigerated capacity in warehouses, vehicles and health-care facilities.”