Aims Cutting Covid-19 Vaccine delivery time:

A handful of drone-delivery startups are currently discussing with governments around the world especially Africa on their ability to use unmanned aerial drones to transport Covid-19 vaccine doses from distribution facilities to health centers mainly in remote or hard-to-access region, flying along fixed routes to move doses in bulk. They are actively vying for a logistical role in the largest vaccination campaign in history. Several of these companies recently have entered into medical delivery partnerships with drug companies and retailers thereby positioning them to take part in the high-profile effort to distribute Covid-19 vaccines. The aim is to streamline operations and cut costs across distribution networks. The drones have temperature-control technology that is used to transport Covid-19 vaccines.

Tight security measures under consideration by governments such as Nigeria and companies meant to guard against theft and highly specific storage temperature requirements would have to be factored in.

Australian drone company, Swoop Aero, is currently discussing with the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s head of public health about delivering a Covid-19 vaccines via drone using a drone delivery network it has developed in the country.

Swoop Aero, which operates fleets of electric fixed-wing drones that take off and land vertically, has delivered vaccines, such as for Ebola, as well as other medical supplies, in Africa since 2018. Some of the company’s aircraft can fly up to 90 miles on a single charge and carry more than 500 doses of vaccines.

Venture-capital investors have poured $405 million into drone startups through the first nine months of this year.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck partnered with Volansi in September to fly medicines and vaccines using an electric Volansi drone capable of carrying roughly 5 pounds of medical cargo from a Merck manufacturing facility in North Carolina to a nearby health clinic in unmanned autonomous drones.

A Startup company, Germany based Wingcopter, which develops transport drones for Health and humanitarian operations, has succeeded in raising $22Million (approx N8.38 Billion) in its latest pitch to investors. This strengthens its position as as a leader in drone-based logistics in the Healthcare sector, with a special focus on healthcare-related applications, including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The company is establishing more partnerships worldwide centering around othee fully automated delivery applications. Wingcopter The company develops, manufactures, and operates the unmanned eVTOL fixed-wing aircraft.

Silicon Valley-based Xplorer Capital and Futury Regio Growth Fund, a Germany-based fund are the core investors.
With new cash injection Wingcopter will now be able to finish building its its 7,200 square meter (77,500 square feet) partially automated serial production facility at the company's new headquarters in Weiterstadt, Germany. The facility is currently home to more than 100 employees. The company will carry out a swift ramp-up to mass production to meet a constantly growing global demand.

The Wingcopter 178 Heavy Lift, provides both one- and two-way delivery, covering distances of up to 120 kilometres. It can accurately lower a package through a winch mechanism, or land at the point of destination and return to its origin with a new payload.

The company says in an official press statement that its mass production strategy "combines the scaling methods of the automotive industry with an aviation-grade discipline for quality and safety,”

The company’s patented drone far exceeds the range and payload capabilities of commercial multicopter drones. Wingcopters can fly long distances as efficiently and quickly as fixed-wing aircraft, reaching ranges of up to 75 miles (120 kilometres) and a Guinness world record speed of 150 mph (240 km/h). Even in strong winds of up to 44 mph (70 km/h) or inclement weather.

Wingcopter is curently operting in Malawi, East Africa Providing COVID-19 support. It recently started a long-term COVID-19 response project named Drone + Data Aid to improve healthcare supply chains together with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Wingcopter has also partnered with UNICEF’S African Drone and Data Academy to train local youth in drone operations, from mission planning to piloting beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) delivery and surveying flights.

This is with the aim of improving public healthcare delivery and supporting healthcare infrastructure of African nations.

Don't be shy. Lets know your thoughts on this article in the comments section.

The post TECH FIRMS TO DELIVER COVID VACCINES IN AFRICA USING DRONES first appeared on CPAN WORLD.

Astra Zeneca owners of the worlds largest Corona Virus Vaccine production facility located in india have confirmed that 5 people have lost their lives in a fire which gutted the place late last week.

Indian government officials also confirmed the fire which started on thursday in the city of Pune in Maharashtra state. Large smoke clouds were seen erupting from a multi-storey building in India's Serum Institute Indranil's (SII) massive headquarters complex. Government officials were reported to have sent seven fire trucks from the local fire station the site.

The government beleives the fire could have been caused by an electrical fault during construction work. Fire official Prashant Ranpise said what caused the fire was not immediately clear, but it was contained within a facility under construction to boost production capacity of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Serum Institute Indranil's Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla confirming the incident on Twitter wrote, "We have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident, We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed." Pune Mayor confirmed 4 people had been evacuated from the inferno while 5 had lost their lives.

The Indian regulatory Authority had approved two vaccines in January this year-- COVISHIELD produced by the Serum Institute Indranil (on behalf of Astra Zeneca) and COVAXIN produced by local firm Bharat Biotech.

Astra Zeneca is the world largest vaccine maker but the company has said the fire will not affect production of the Corona virus vaccine brand known as COVISHIELD. The company has developed a Corona Virus Vaccine in colaboration with Oxford university and Novavax Inc and licensed production to the Serum Institute Indranil (SII). SII had been contracted to produce a billion does of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The company hopes to increase production capacity from 1.5 billion doses to 2.5 billion doses annually by the end of this year. The new facility gutted by fire is a big part of the exoansion plan.

The company was in the process of producing and stockpiling 50 Million doses a month as from April 2021 to meet growing demand in the world oopulation as the pandemic rages on. They also have plans to increase production to 100Million doses. The AstraZeneca vaccine is already in use in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan.

Astra Zeneca officials said production of COVISHIELD will not be interupted because the company had multiple production work centers in different buildings as a production strategy and contingency plan. Though the SII company is estimating delays in launching new products and revenue losses of about $137 Million Dollars. Serum Institute is the world's biggest vaccine manufacturer by volume and has been contracted by the World Health Organization to supply and distribute 200 million doses to COVAX a consortium comprising GAVI, CEPI and WHO for distribution and inoculations to poor countries. Some Wealthy countries have already bought up 75% of the 12 billion coronavirus vaccine doses expected to be produced by companies globally this year. Consequently, Astra Zenenca's SII contract is likely to produce most of the vaccines that will be needed by developing countries.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NIGERIA?

Many low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, are depending on SII delivering the AstraZeneca vaccine. India itself had already began one of the world's biggest vaccine rollouts this in January, aiming to vaccinate 300 million people by July with both COVISHILED and COVAXIN.

With production interuption expected doses in these countries could be delayed. Also since two doses of the vaccine within a space of 3 months are required an interruption of vaccine supply could truncate complete vaccination plans in countries where individuals have already received their first shots.

Lets know what you think. Don't forget to drop a comment

The post FIRE CONSUMES WORLDS LARGEST CORONA VIRUS VACCINE PRODUCTION PLANT: first appeared on CPAN WORLD.

The Minister of State for health Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora and the Chairman Presidential Task Force on Covid 19 Mr Boss Mustapha have both advised that Nigerians do not become complacent once they receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. They have insisted that safety protocols involving frequent handwashing, use of sanitizers and face masks in public remain in force and will be enforced to the letter.

The government officials have made this assertions in the light of ongoing efforts by the Federal government to acquire the Covid-19 vaccines and initiate distribution nationwide based on a planned strategy. Public health experts have also advised that Vaccines will only facilitate 95% immunity against the prevailing strain of Corona virus and there is still a very small window of opportunity or risk of infection. The government officials have also advised that even though individuals may have been vaccinated and acquired immunity, they could still be carriers and transmit the virus to individuals who are at risk of contracting the disease. Consequently individuals are strongly advised to sustain all safety protocols.

While briefing the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 earlier this month the Minister for Health Dr Osagie Ehanire reported that there was a reduction in case fatalities. He warned Nigerians not to let down their guard even as case fatality rates were reducing.

The current Corona virus pandemic has claimed millions of lives worldwide in the past 2 years and has necessitated what could eventually become the costliest vaccine development effort and biggest vaccination campaign on history.

Many Clinical trials are ongoing world wide both for drug treatment regimens and Vaccines. Drugs are meant for  treatment of already infected individuals exhibiting symptoms of illness while vaccines are meant to prevent the disease by stimulating immunity in individuals whom have been administered the vaccines.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) vaccines work by training the body's immune system (natural defense mechanism) to recognize and fight off antigens like Viruses and Bacteria. The vaccines themselves contain microbial part or whole viruses which have been inactivated. The body is able to keep records of these microbes when exposed to them via vaccines thereby developing a natural defense against them. If infected by the virus, the body would have enough antibodies to combat the Virus and prevent full blown disease. WHO currently recognizes more than 50 Covid-19 vaccine candidates undergoing clinical trials. COVAX is the consortium comprising WHO, GAVI and CEPI that is responsible for ensuring adequate vaccine distribution to nations and prioritizing at risk individuals. Currently the vaccines which have been released require administration of a first dose and then a booster dose 3 weeks later to activate the recipient’s immune system and minimize the risk of infection from the virus.

A vaccinated person may not fall sick if infected but can still transmit the virus to friends, family and close contacts.

Lets know what you think in the comments section

The post DO NOT LOWER YOUR GUARD : MINISTER FOR HEALTH first appeared on CPAN WORLD.

Health supply chain experts have been reviewing the federal governments nCovid 19 Vaccine distribution and administration strategy across Nigeria.

This month the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) during an online sensitization seminar (webinar) released details of how batches of the nCOVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed across Nigeria. According to the Executive Director Faisal Shuaib, NPHCDA will receive 100,000 doses of the novel Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine within the month of January 2021 with direct administration starting early February 2021. The strategy of the NPHCDA is to administer the Vaccine in 4 phases, targeting states with data showing higher percentage of patients positive for the nCov19 Virus. This would be after vaccinating frontline health workers, the elderly and vulnerable persons with co-morbidities based on World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The aim is to achieve an appreciable level of herd immunity in these states with at least 40% of the entire population vaccinated by end of 2021 and additional 30% by in 2022.

As a precondition, the NPHCDA requires that cold chain storage facilities providing optimum conditions for storage and distribution of the temperature sensitive vaccines are put in place by states before receiving the vaccine.

So the priority states are: Kano, Lagos, Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi and Oyo will receive more doses for health workers.

The breakdown is as follows: Kano, 3,557; Lagos, 3,131; Katsina, 2,361; Kaduna, 2,074; Bauchi, 1,900; Oyo, 1,848; Rivers, 1,766; Jigawa, 1,712; Niger, 1,558; Ogun, 1,473; Sokoto, 1,468; Benue, 1,423; Borno, 1,416; Anambra, 1,379; Kebbi, 1,361; Zamfara, 1,336; Rivers, 1,306; Imo, 1,267; Ondo, 1,228; Akwa Ibom, 1,161.

Others are: Adamawa, 1,129; Edo, 1,104; Plateau, 1,089; Enugu, 1,088; Osun, 1,032; Kogi, 1,030; Cross River, 1,023; Abia, 955; Gombe, 908; Yobe, 842; Ekiti, 830; Taraba, 830; Kwara, 815; Ebonyi, 747; Bayelsa, 589; FCT, 695; Nasarawa, 661.

Requirements:

1) Cold chain storage facilities (warehousing and Transportation/ logistics)

2) Adequate Staffing to ensure administration of the doses within 5 days of receipt. 

3) Data collection tools to ensure proper tracking, documentation and follow up.

4) Adequate mechanisms to ensure 100,000 doses to be administered to 50,000 people with 21 days. (Each individual is to take a second dose after 3 weeks)

Experts say implementation will require a seamless flow of information and agile decision-making structures between the Federal, state and Local governments with civil society and traditional organisations involved to ensure optimal mobilization of the population. The information Technology (IT) support has to be robust accurate. The existing technology infrastructure for previous vaccines programs will have to be leveraged and upgraded. Adequately trained staff and step down of training from Federal to state to LGA level and the rural communities is also needed. All this will require massive planning and orientation across the states.

The private sector healthcare institutions and logistics systems have to be brought onboard and partnered for shared learning because they are well exposed and very robust in their operations especially in the areas of Cold chain end-to-end supply chain management.

In all, experts agree it will be a continuous learning and improvement process requiring commitment from everyone involved.

Don't forget to drop a comment below

The post REVIEWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS COVID 19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION PLAN first appeared on CPAN WORLD.