Closing the Global Immunization Gap: Delivery of Lifesaving Vaccines Through Innovation and Technology

Abstract

One of every 5 children does not receive basic vaccines because of concerns related to storage and delivery in resource limited countries. Transporting vaccines over long distances in extreme temperatures is a common challenge. Issues that involve production and formulation, delivery technologies, cold chain logistics, and safety factors need to be addressed to properly adapt vaccines to resource constrained settings. Current successful field interventions include United Nation Children’s Fund cold boxes, which are used to store and distribute vaccine in disaster struck areas, and vaccine vial monitors, which allow health workers to gauge whether vaccine is still usable in areas with unreliable electricity and refrigeration. This review aims to provide a general overview of innovative approaches and technologies that positively affect vaccine coverage and save more lives.