Vodacom: boosts vaccine storage and distribution

CAPE TOWN: To help the drive for efficient COVID-19 vaccinations in South Africa, Vodacom and the Western Cape Division of Well being are happy to announce the distribution of 257 new chilly chain models, price R3.6 million, throughout the province. The gear allows the Western Cape Division of Well being to spice up COVID-19 vaccine storage and distribution, notably to extra distant areas, whereas sustaining vaccine efficacy. The handover happened right this moment at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape City with Western Cape Premier Alan Winde in attendance.

This comes after Vodacom Group and Vodafone Basis donated R74 million within the procurement of chilly chain gear, making certain the protected supply and administration of COVID-19 vaccines and different life-saving drugs, to a number of nations in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa has acquired 2 197 models of this important gear within the struggle in opposition to the pandemic. The models will get distributed throughout all 9 provinces.

The 257 chilly chain models donated to the Western Cape Province include six vaccine freezers, 40 ice-lined vaccine fridges, 80 cooler bins, 125 digital temperature loggers, two distant temperature units and 4 distant probes. The gear is being distributed to 51 websites throughout all six districts of the province: Cape City Metro Municipality, Cape Winelands District Municipality, Central Karoo District Municipality, Backyard Route District Municipality, Overberg District Municipality and West Coast District Municipality.

“As we proceed to accomplice with the federal government in response to COVID-19, Vodacom needs to help all South Africans in overcoming the challenges of the disaster. By means of the funding and distribution of cold-chain gear all through the Western Cape, we’re making certain residents have larger entry to soundly saved vaccines. This can be a important step in direction of constructing an inclusive post-pandemic future,” says Carol Corridor, Managing Government, Vodacom Western Cape.

The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, mentioned: “I wish to commend Vodacom for his or her vital and beneficiant donation of latest chilly chain models all through the province, making certain that extra individuals get entry to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. As we exit the Nationwide State of Catastrophe and Catastrophe Laws come to an finish, every of us must assume larger private duty. We are able to do that by practising the golden guidelines of fine hygiene. We must also defend these prone to extreme illness, by appearing responsibly. Getting vaccinated can also be the suitable option to make in order that we save lives and jobs.”

Chilly-chain administration is an important a part of making certain a protected and efficient inoculation drive. Vaccines require uninterrupted refrigeration which meet sure temperature necessities, from the place of producing till the purpose of administration. If the cold-chain is damaged at any level from arrival to administration, this will have an effect on the effectiveness and efficacy of vaccines, which suggests they turn out to be probably unsafe for immunisation.

Vaccine storage is a problem for varied nations on the African continent. A latest survey of 34 African nations by the African regional workplace of the World Well being Group (WHO) revealed that, in 31% of nations, greater than 50% of districts have challenges with cold-chain capability.

“The distribution of chilly chain gear helps the nationwide vaccination programme in making certain weak and hard-to-reach communities within the Western Cape area have entry to protected vaccines. Furthermore, the gear can even help authorities past the COVID-19 pandemic, with the storage and distribution of different life-saving drugs. This helps Vodacom’s social contract to assist higher the lives of individuals by way of expertise,” provides Corridor.