Turkey has logistics infrastructure to carry out vaccine coming from abroad

The first results came from the third phase experiments of the coronavirus vaccine CoronaVac developed by the China-based Sinovac company. Indonesia-based company Bio Farma announced that they found CoronVac to be up to 97% effective in initial trials. Faculty member Istanbul Gelisim University International Logistics and Transportation Department Asst. Prof. Dr. Kadir Mersin said that as a country, we have a logistics infrastructure to carry vaccines.

“TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE OF MRNA-BASED VACCINES IS GRUELLING”

Stating that the storage conditions of mRNA-based vaccines should be between -70 and -80 degrees, Mersin said: “Currently, there are vaccination studies related to the coronavirus epidemic. One of them is the mRNA-based vaccine and the other is the Chinese vaccine, which we know as the classical vaccine. One of the mRNA-based vaccines is a vaccine made by Pfizer. Shipping and storage of the mRNA-based vaccine is a bit of a challenge. Because the storage conditions for this vaccine should be between -70 and - 80 degrees. However, the storage of these vaccines also poses a problem.”

“EVEN A DOSE MUST NOT BE DAMAGE”

Stating that 34 billion dollars of vaccine was wasted in the world in 2019, Mersin said: “34 billion dollars vaccine was wasted due to the breaking of this cold chain. However, we do not have such a luxury because the issue is the coronavirus epidemic. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, this chain should not be broken in any way and even a dose of vaccine should not be wasted. Therefore, although the vaccine is difficult to transport, it is not impossible. Compared to other countries, I can say that Turkey has logistic infrastructure to transport these vaccines.”

“CHINESE VACCINE MORE EASY TO TRANSPORT AND STORE”

Stating that the Chinese vaccine will be easy for our country considering the storage conditions, Mersin said: “The Chinese vaccine has its own advantages. One of these advantages is that the Chinese vaccine is easy to transport and store. It is known that the shelf life of the Chinese vaccine is 1 month in the refrigerator and 3 months in freezers.”

“WE DO NOT HAVE A -70 DEGREES COLD STORAGE”

Asst. Prof. Dr. Mersin continued his words as follows:
“When we look at the transport side of vaccines, Pfizer designed a thermal box. Thanks to this box, 5 thousand doses of vaccine can fit into this box at once. As a country, our problem will arise in the storage of vaccines. We do not have a storage with -70 degrees of cold. In order for vaccines to be stored in our country, they must have an adequate infrastructure in the hospitals. For this reason, it will not be very easy to keep mRNA-based vaccines in our country.”