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Role of Supply Chain Management, Gaps & Opportunities and Immunization Agenda 2030
A Functional, end-to-end supply chain and logistics system is critical for the success of immunization programs. These systems ensure that vaccines are available when and where they are needed, and that they are delivered safely and efficiently.
Effective vaccine storage, distribution, handling, and management are essential components of a strong immunization supply chain. These activities must be carefully coordinated to ensure that vaccines are transported and stored at the correct temperatures to maintain their potency and efficacy. This is particularly important for vaccines that are sensitive to temperature, such as those used to prevent polio and measles.
Logistics management information systems (LMIS) can also play a critical role in promoting resilient and efficient system performance. These systems help to track vaccine supplies and distribution, monitor vaccine stock levels, and identify potential supply chain issues before they become major problems.
Ultimately, the goal of a strong immunization supply chain is to ensure the uninterrupted availability of quality vaccines from manufacturer to service-delivery levels. This means that health facilities have the vaccines they need when they need them, and that opportunities to vaccinate are not missed because vaccines are unavailable
Building and maintaining a strong immunization supply chain requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, health facilities, and governments. By working together to strengthen these systems, we can help to ensure that vaccines reach the people who need them most, and that we can prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases.
In current scenario a bigger focus is required on following components to develop innovative solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of vaccine delivery.
- Vaccine supply chain management: This includes the procurement of vaccines, the management of inventory, and the coordination of deliverables between manufactures, distributors, and healthcare facilities.
- Vaccine distribution:This includes the transportation of vaccines from distribution centers to healthcare facilities, as well as the identification of optimal routes and schedules to ensure timely delivery.
- Vaccine storage and handling: This includes the maintenance of appropriate temperature and storage conditions to ensure the quality and efficacy of vaccines.
- Vaccine administration: This includes the coordination of vaccine clinics, the management of appointments, and the training of healthcare workers on proper vaccine administration.
- Vaccine monitoring and evaluation: This includes the tracking of vaccination rates, the identification of barriers to vaccination, and the assessment of vaccine effectiveness and safety.
Gaps & Opportunities in Supply Chain
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent and/or control the outbreak of infectious diseases. The logistical aspects of vaccination have gained increasing attention. Vaccine logistics often focus on one specific aspect, such as vaccine supply chain management, vaccine distribution, or vaccine storage and handling. However, a broader framework is needed.
There are several gaps and opportunities in the supply chain for immunization programs. One major gap is the lack of real-time data and analytics, which can make it difficult to track vaccine supplies and identify potential supply chain issues before they become major problems. Another gap is the lack of adequate infrastructure and resources in some low-income countries, which can limit the availability and accessibility of vaccines. However, there are also many opportunities to strengthen supply chains, such as through the use of new technologies like blockchain and mobile applications, and through increased collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. By addressing these gaps and seizing these opportunities, we can help to ensure that immunization programs are successful and sustainable over the long term.
It’s the time to collaborate more to swiften the progress and expedite the process to bring countries back on track after the global pandemic of COVID-19 and also to ensure that people especially children are shielded from vaccine-preventable diseases by promoting vaccines. To succeed in this, it’s important to strengthen the immunization program at country level and supply chain management plays a critical role here.
Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030)
The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) sets an ambitious global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunization for the decade 2021-2030, with supply chain and logistics being a key area of focus in the first, overarching strategic priority.
National vaccine supply chains are under increasing pressure to effectively manage the surge of new vaccine introductions, adapt to the needs of new delivery strategies, and benefit from new technological advances in cold chain equipment to increase their efficiency and effectiveness. This pressure to increase performance is pushing the limits of what can be achieved.
The IA2030 recognizes the importance of a strong immunization supply chain in ensuring that high-quality vaccines are always available in the right quantity and form at the right time, in the right place, and stored and distributed under the right conditions. This requires a concerted effort to strengthen supply chains and ensure that they are integrated with other supply chains for more effective delivery of primary health care
Investing in systems and infrastructure to safely manage, treat, and dispose of vaccine waste is also a key component of the IA2030's strategy. This can help to reduce the environmental footprint of immunization programs and ensure that they are sustainable over the long term.
Overall, the IA2030's focus on strengthening supply chains and logistics is essential for achieving universal health coverage and ensuring that everyone has access to the vaccines they need to stay healthy. By working together to implement these strategies, we can help to ensure that immunization programs are successful and sustainable over the long term.
The contribution of Empower to improving supply chain management
To navigate the complex and rapidly evolving landscape of digital supply chain management, Empower School of Health is successfully running the several digital supply chain management courses.
These courses cover topics such as fundamentals of procurement and supply chain management and its linkages with global health, management structures and systems required for effective operations of PSM, how to assess and address supply chain bottlenecks etc. By mastering these skills, one can be better equipped to drive innovation and transformation in Supply Chain Management.
These courses offer an active participation in community of like-minded professionals who are committed to driving innovation and excellence in supply chain management through interactive learning modules, case studies, and group discussions etc. It also provides a deeper understanding of the key concepts and principles of digital supply chain management, and develops the practical skills needed to apply them in real-world settings.