Publication Date
Spring 2025
Abstract
The world has made great strides in public health in the past century, with the introduction of vaccines revolutionizing preventative care. Continued research and development has allowed for increased vaccine roll-out, but with a growing number of people to vaccinate, immunization supply chains have struggled to keep up. The cold chain–the systems of refrigeration that keep vaccines cool–is a key facet of the global immunization supply chain. Most vaccines require storage between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, throughout their whole journey from manufacture to the last-mile. Insufficient cold chain management and technology has led to considerable vaccine wastage, while many individuals continue to succumb to vaccine-preventable disease worldwide. This study takes a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa–one that has lagged behind in cold chain infrastructure and vaccine distribution. In existing cold chain structures in the region, difficulties persist in outdated equipment, insufficient temperature monitoring and control, insufficient training in temperature and storage practices, difficulty navigating the governing environment, and a lack of centralized information management systems. While these issues persist, solar fridges, drones, and AI offer alternatives for cheaper and more efficient cold chains, and a glimpse into a future with less vaccine wastage.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Tilley, Maya, "Building Resilient Vaccine Cold Chains in Sub-Saharan Africa" (2025). Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy. 6.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/szh2/6