A WHO-UNICEF joint statement encouraging greater health commodity supply chain integration for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals where appropriate.

After officially declaring COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have released interim guidance on both routine and supplemental immunization activities. The pandemic and countries’ response strain cold chain systems due to the surge capacity needed to store temperaturesensitive COVID-19 diagnostic and therapeutic products. This requires flexibility of the existing cold chain system to manage surplus vaccine and other essential health commodities and to ensure continuity of the delivery of comprehensive health care service. The WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), reiterate the value of safe, feasible and cost-effective integration of temperature-sensitive health products into the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) cold chain system. This joint statement highlights integration as a practical solution and provides reference to planning tools and other existing mechanisms to design and implement a safe and efficient integrated cold chain system. Ensuring safety requires recognition of risks associated with an integrated cold chain approach and ensuring sufficient capacities and mechanisms are in place to mitigate these risks.