The transport and storage of vaccines is the biggest dilemma in the world right now, and rightly so.
We look at how tech is currently helping the distribution of vaccinations and what it could do in the future!
What tech is already doing…
Route Planning – Satellite navigation systems allow for ideal route planning which means quicker, more economical delivery. This allows for delivery slots to be planned and promised for customers as well as reduced cost in terms of fuel.
Tracking and timing – Tracking devices are far more accurate these days and therefore pairing this with navigation systems allows for extremely accurate time scales and knowledge of where a delivery is and when it will arrive at its final destination – important data for the delivery of vaccines.
Information – The internet is a perfect platform to advertise why to be vaccinated, where to be vaccinated, how to book a vaccination and even how to get there! Social media awareness campaigns are already in circulation for vaccinations such as the flu jab.
What might be coming…
Nano-patches – These techy patches are often used for pain relief for back or knee ache but could be effective at reducing the discomfort of vaccinations and therefore encourage those who are put off by this factor to get a vaccination.
Digital Necklaces – These brilliant ideas have already caught on in India after a medical student named Ruchit Nagar realised there was a very low level of vaccination in rural India.
The necklace is a simple pendent-style which, when scanned by a smart-phone, produces a person’s medical record, including their vaccination history. This can also be updated by healthcare workers after admitting vaccinations or other health check-ups.
What the future holds…
Drone Delivery – For the most part, vaccines can be moved and stored with by lorry or plane, however most vaccines need to be kept at a specifically low temperature and therefore getting them to remote areas with poor road infrastructure can be a problem.
Drones could help solve this problem, aiding the time sensitive element of vaccines in a cheap and functional way.