Very interesting discussion and some important points made.
Over the last year, WHO and UNICEF offices at all levels have been communicating intensively with member states about cold chain and ultra-cold chain (UCC) equipment deployment to support possible COVID-19 vaccine introduction. While the logistical challenges of doing so in LMIC settings are clear, experience with deploying the Ebola vaccine has proved that it is not impossible. WHO and UNICEF continue to be to provide countries with the necessary tools and guidance to make the correct decisions to support their immunization needs and goals. Related to this, members be interested in the following ISC resources and guidance, some recently shared on TechNet-21:
COVID-19 Vaccination, Country Readiness and Delivery: Supply and Logistics Guidance (working copy)
"The COVAX Supply and Logistics workstream, led by UNICEF, Gavi and WHO, have released a working copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination, Country Readiness & Delivery: Supply and Logistics Guidance. Countries might find this Guide useful when developing and strengthening their supply chain strategies to receive, store, distribute and manage the COVID-19 vaccines and their ancillary products, in line with their national deployment and vaccination plan (NDVP). The document also provides links to the different tools and resources to aid countries in performing assessment, planning and capacity-building activities."
https://www.technet-21.org/en/library/main/6717
COVID-19 Vaccine Introduction Readiness Assessment Tool (VIRAT/VRAF 2.0) - Version 3 December 2020
This Readiness Assessment tool is a national level tool. Data inputs should be entered into the worksheet 'National Readiness'. Suggestions for timing and intervals to implement activities and assess progress are provided in the timeline. Pre-planning activities should be initiated as early as Sept 2020 (earliest time interval provided) as COVID-19 vaccines may be available for introduction by early 2021. The tool will be updated as soon as more certainty about global vaccine supply availability becomes available. DRAFT DOCUMENT, PENDING PUBLICATION ON THE WHO WEBSITE.
https://www.technet-21.org/en/library/main/6724
https://www.technet-21.org/en/forums/discussions/new-virat-vraf-2-0-the-updated-covid-19-vaccine-introduction-readiness-assessment-tool
Article from the November edition of the Global Immunization Newsletter (GIN) “COVID-19 vaccine deployment using ultra-cold chain system”
Attached for reference.
Other WHO immunization-specific guidance relating to COVID-19
Listed here: https://www.technet-21.org/en/topics/covid-19
Other supply chain tools from WHO HQ of use to countries
Attached for reference.