Solar power to help maintain vaccine efficacy

To ensure that vaccines are maintained at a consistent temperature irrespective of power shortages and hence maintain their effectiveness, the provincial health department has embarked on a programme to install solar arrays to power cold storage facilities for vaccines across the province.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Health Department has started installation of solar panels at warehouses where vaccines are stored to ensure the provision of uninterrupted power supply.

The project is being assisted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Sources familiar with the development told The Express Tribune that cold stores in the warehouse were set up by the Unicef.

However, the efficacy of vaccines stored in these warehouses was affected by the frequent power outages which have plagued the province this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2020.