Once Covid-19 vaccine ready it will test logistics industry to its limits: Serum Institute of India
June 26, 2020: Parag Deshmukh, additional director, global strategic business development, Serum Institute of India noted that the production of a potential Covid-19 vaccine will test the abilities of Indian logistics to the limits due to the massive scale of production expected and the demand it will have around the world.
In his keynote address, Deshmukh also raised concerns over the cost, method of transport and air cargo capacity available to make the vaccine reach 9 billion people around the globe.
June 26, 2020: Parag Deshmukh, additional director, global strategic business development, Serum Institute of India noted that the production of a potential Covid-19 vaccine will test the abilities of Indian logistics to the limits due to the massive scale of production expected and the demand it will have around the world.
He was speaking in a webinar organized by Indian Transport & Logistics News under the topic ‘Covid-19 response: Building resilient supply chains for vaccine delivery on Thursday, June 25, 2020.’
In his keynote address, Deshmukh also raised concerns over the cost, method of transport and air cargo capacity available to make the vaccine reach people around the globe.
"Once the Covid-19 vaccine is ready we have to make it reach it till people around the world. Even in the case of measles or polio vaccine the average coverage of the population is around 85-90 percent, however, for Covid-19 we can’t leave out even 10-5 percent as there is a mutation happening with the virus,” he said.
“For all these vaccines the real cost is only around 30-40 percent while the cost for delivery takes a larger proportion in the final cost. This is an issue particularly when affordability will be an important concern for many countries regarding the Covid-19 vaccine. It is going to be a huge task for logistics players. Be ready with your capabilities to handle this. We will need a cold chain with temperature-controlled between 2-8 degree celsius,” he continued.
Meanwhile, according to recent reports, the Serum Institute of India will have 2-3 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine being tested by Oxford University ready by the first week of July. The company entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to manufacture the same vaccine in April.
"Once the #Covid19 vaccine is ready. It is going to be a huge task for logistics players. Be ready with your capabilities to handle this," says Parag Deshmukh, additional director, global strategic business development, @SerumInstIndia#LogisticsLiftsLife #Warehousing #Lockdown pic.twitter.com/nfsCv5xAWp
— ITLN Live (@ITLNLive) June 25, 2020
