Efficiency of Cold Chain Logistics of COVID Vaccines in the Philippines Based on IATF Guidelines

Authors: Ma. Emmari Gwyneth U. Arciaga, Myisha J. Acebes, Anshirina Mhae A. Rivera, and Dindo C. Inso

Issue: 2018-2019

Abstract:

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 or COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020. The coronavirus alert level reached its maximum and to avoid more transmission of the virus on March 12, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte declared a lockdown for more than 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the global economy, straining the healthcare system and changing the way people lived, which is why the governmentimposed restrictions and a lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading. The researchers seek to determine how efficient the cold chain logistics were in terms of the storage facility, power supply, logistic documentation, and transportation by assessing how the vaccine  delivery delays affect its efficacy. The Chi-Square Test enables the researchers in determining the relationship between how the participants characterize the application of vaccination in their facilities and how well the cold chain logistics for the Covid19 vaccines in the Philippines work. According to the findings, the following have no significant relationship with the overall efficiency. Additionally, the relationship between the overall efficiency and the main source of power supply cannot be determined since electricity is the only answer.

Keywords: Cold Chain Logistics, Coronavirus Disease, Lockdown, Storage Facility and Vaccine