How IoT can assist in vaccine storage and transportation
As more and more vaccines are being distributed and transported across the globe, ensuring proper vaccine storage and reliable transportation is a must. We have to ensure that these precious vials are not put to waste and are free from contamination.
Vaccines are especially tricky to store and transport since they need special environment for that. The so called cold chain answer these concerns as it is a temperature-controlled supply chain. To maintain an unbroken cold chain means that an uninterrupted series of refrigerated production, storage and distribution activities, along with associated equipment and logistics, which maintain quality via a desired low-temperature range must be provided. By storing the vaccines in a cold chain, it minimizes the spoilage risk. Also, storing vaccines requires a certain temperature level that these cold chains offer and can maintain.
Types of cold chain
Classified by the temperature requirements, the types of cold chain are:
Refrigerated Chain: between 36 ℉ to 46 ℉ (2 ℃ to 8 ℃)
Frozen Chain: below –4 ℉ (–20 ℃)
Ultracold Chain: below –94 ℉ (–70 ℃)
Guaranteeing that the cold chain is working properly and stores vaccines per specifications is where IoT in the face of LoRaWAN networks, with gateways and adequate sensors, enters the picture.
The new and ever changing reality requires custom solutions to be developed rapidly and on the spot. Modular technology allows for those solutions to be made a reality as quickly as needed.
Benefits of modular IoT solutions and LoRaWAN in the vaccine storage and transportation can be seen throughout the whole process of getting the vaccines to where they are most needed.
Temperature Monitoring
As previously mentioned, there is a certain temperature that must be maintained to keep the vaccines from spoiling and going to waste. By installing sensors and gateways powered by the LoRa technology, a monitoring system can be created, which ensures that the set temperature is maintained and would send alerts to the user, medical professionals, if there has been any temperature excursions.
Data Aggregation
With the help of the IoT, data collection and storage is easy. At the same time, data sharing and augmenting the temperature levels before and after a temperature excursion (when temperature levels deviate) can be used and analyzed to prevent unwanted outcomes.
Location and Tracking
Тhe presence of already deployed network of LoRaWAN gateways makes the implementation of GPS tracking systems may be implemented, which reports the position of the assets. A correlation can be formed as well, regarding location and temperature levels.
Proactive Measures
Through modular IoT and LoRaWAN solutions, managing cold chain systems is possible and easier than ever. Moreover, having data on the temperature readings before temperature excursions happen may be used to assist in preventing the excursions from occurring frequently and fatally.
For additional information, read 4 ways IoT and Commercial LoRa Gateways can be used for COVID vaccine transport
The pandemic is still here, and IoT advancements continue to find ways to mitigate the spread of the virus.
