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CDC, UPS comment on vaccine delivery to Laos

A Q&A with Centers for Disease Control’s Dr. Joseph Bresee and Dimitri Zacharenko of UPS on shipping 100,000 influenza vaccines 5,000 miles in temperature-sensitive conditions.

This photo shows a combination of a PharmaPort 360TM controlled temperature container and UPS Temperature True® services helped protect this vaccine shipment to Laos.
This photo shows a combination of a PharmaPort 360TM controlled temperature container and UPS Temperature True® services helped protect this vaccine shipment to Laos.

Editor’s Note: This article offers additional details related to a recent Healthcare Packaging (HCP) story reporting on a recent delivery of nearly 100,000 influenza vaccines in prefilled syringes that traveled more than 5,000 miles in just three days, maintaining a 3° to 7°C temperature range throughout the journey.

The first portion of this article is a Q&A with Dr. Joseph Bresee, Chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Influenza Division.

HCP: For this particular delivery of nearly 100,000 flu vaccinations to Laos, please describe the process from CDC’s perspective.

Bresee: Typically, CDC connects vaccine manufacturers that want to contribute to the public health mission of preventing influenza with countries’ ministries of health that are ready and able to efficiently administer donated vaccines in their country. CDC then works with both the donor and the country public health authorities to provide technical support for the program, including supporting policy development and program evaluation.

HCP: How is it determined what packaging, logistics, and distribution needs are required for this particular shipment, and what company makes these decisions?

Bresee: This program is still quite new, but in the recent past donor companies have worked directly with logistics and shipping companies such as UPS to coordinate transport of vaccine and related supplies. CDC facilitates communication and planning between partners and recipient countries, as needed.

HCP: Describe CDC’s history with working with UPS. How significant is the partnership to CDC and what makes CDC seek UPS for such projects? What does UPS do well that encourages CDC to use their services?

Bresee: Spring 2013 is the second year that UPS has partnered with the Influenza Division International Program and other key players to move influenza vaccine to recipient countries. UPS clearly has the geographic reach and the expertise to ensure that the vaccine reaches the country in good shape, and therefore brings unique skills to the project.

HCP: What is the current status of the recent shipments to Laos? Describe what happens once the UPS shipments get to Laos.

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