Pakistan

Vaccine storage: Pakistan to improve cold chain platform

Initiative will help reduce running costs, improve temperature control

Our Correspondent September 02, 2016

each drop of vaccine should reach out to the actual beneficiary across all areas and regions equitably the programme needs to address any gaps in the cold chain capacity in order to ensure the quality and safety of the vaccine minister said photo inp

ISLAMABAD: The National Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (NICC) for immunisation on Thursday endorsed the plan for improvement and optimisation of cold chain system.

Prepared by the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to enhance the capacity of cold chain equipment in the country, the plan aims at expansion of storages, transportation, maintenance of equipment and other related areas.

The coordination committee of the development partners, federal and provincial governments agreed that a request for $33 million grant to be submitted to Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI).

EPI National Programme Manager Dr Saqlain Ahmed Gilani while presenting the salient features of the initiative, said that GAVI had introduced a new cold chain equipment optimisation platform window. The initiative will help improve efficiency and safety of vaccines by increasing operating time of cold chain equipment, reducing running costs and improving temperature control.

“Pakistan is also applying through this platform where 65 districts will be prioritised in the first phase of the expansion of cold chain capacity inclusive of 13 districts of Balochistan,” Dr Gilani informed.

He also shared with the participants that over 15,000 ice-lined refrigerators and solar driven refrigerators would be distributed to districts.

State Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar said the vaccines were a huge investment for the future of our generations and its wastage needed to be controlled strictly.

“Each drop of vaccine should reach out to the actual beneficiary across all areas and regions equitably. The programme needs to address any gaps in the cold chain capacity in order to ensure the quality and safety of the vaccine,” she said.

“Strengthening of cold chain capacity at all levels is one of the critical factors and prerequisites for new vaccine introduction,” the minister stressed.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2016.