Cencora’s World Courier delivers more than 300,000 mpox vaccines to Africa
By World Courier
In a significant effort to combat the escalating mpox outbreak in Africa, World Courier, a global specialty logistics provider and a Cencora business, successfully delivered the first 300,000 doses of mpox vaccines in September 2024 to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Nigeria.
The DRC has been the epicenter of the rapidly escalating mpox outbreak. As the number of mpox cases in Africa continued to climb, the World Health Organization (WHO) in August declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern — its highest alert level.
Through its collaboration with Bavarian Nordic, a fully integrated vaccine company, World Courier helped to devise and execute a logistics strategy to enable the timely and safe delivery of Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN® mpox vaccine doses from Europe to communities in Africa.
Before the products left the manufacturing facility in Denmark, World Courier’s team of experts established a robust plan to preserve the product’s quality and integrity across the 4,000-plus mile shipment journey — and to ensure they could reach the communities as quickly as possible.
Adding to the complexity of the operation, the vaccines needed to be transported under frozen temperatures. A single temperature excursion could threaten the product’s integrity and efficacy, rendering it useless and delaying patient access.
World Courier leveraged its passive, multi-use packaging solution, Cocoon, to ensure the vaccines remained in the appropriate condition — including the specified temperature range — throughout the shipment.
The challenges faced during this operation highlight broader trends in infectious diseases and climate change. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events create conditions that allow pathogens to flourish, increasing the risk of outbreaks.
World Courier's ability to deliver temperature-sensitive vaccines in resource-limited settings exemplifies the need for specialized logistics providers to navigate these complexities. This operation not only underscores the importance of advanced cold chain technologies but also demonstrates proactive risk mitigation strategies essential for maintaining the efficacy of life-saving treatments amidst climate-related disruptions.
Through its collaboration with Bavarian Nordic, a fully integrated vaccine company, World Courier helped to devise and execute a logistics strategy to enable the timely and safe delivery of Bavarian Nordic’s MVA-BN® mpox vaccine doses from Europe to communities in Africa.
Meticulous planning and coordination
Before the products left the manufacturing facility in Denmark, World Courier’s team of experts established a robust plan to preserve the product’s quality and integrity across the 4,000-plus mile shipment journey — and to ensure they could reach the communities as quickly as possible.
Adding to the complexity of the operation, the vaccines needed to be transported under frozen temperatures. A single temperature excursion could threaten the product’s integrity and efficacy, rendering it useless and delaying patient access.
World Courier leveraged its passive, multi-use packaging solution, Cocoon, to ensure the vaccines remained in the appropriate condition — including the specified temperature range — throughout the shipment.
Extreme weather and cold chain capabilities
The challenges faced during this operation highlight broader trends in infectious diseases and climate change. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events create conditions that allow pathogens to flourish, increasing the risk of outbreaks.
World Courier's ability to deliver temperature-sensitive vaccines in resource-limited settings exemplifies the need for specialized logistics providers to navigate these complexities. This operation not only underscores the importance of advanced cold chain technologies but also demonstrates proactive risk mitigation strategies essential for maintaining the efficacy of life-saving treatments amidst climate-related disruptions.
Commitment to global health
Through these efforts, World Courier has demonstrated its expertise and reliability in specialty pharmaceutical logistics, ensuring that critical medical supplies reach those who need them the most despite challenging environments.
As global health patterns shift and climates evolve, the role of specialized logistics providers like World Courier becomes increasingly vital. The intersection of climate change and infectious diseases necessitates resilient and adaptable logistics solutions.
For more information about World Courier’s work please visit here and to learn more about Bavarian Nordic’s mpox work in Africa please visit here.
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Getting the vaccines to Africa is only half the challenge
As mpox vaccines arrive, how will they be kept cold?
As cases continue to increase in parts of Africa, questions are being asked about how countries, if they can even get vaccines, are able store and distribute them.
Few facilities are up to the task as the vaccines need to be stored at particular temperatures. Once they are defrosted, they have to be used within 40 days. A tall order in the worst-hit country, Democratic Republic of Congo, where the country’s health authorities face many logistical challenges.
The BBC reports from a cold storage facility in Kinshasa as mpox vaccines start arriving in the country.
World Courier plays a crucial role in overcoming these challenges through its expertise in last-mile logistics and cold chain capabilities, ensuring that vaccines remain effective and reach those in need despite the difficult conditions.
As cases continue to increase in parts of Africa, questions are being asked about how countries, if they can even get vaccines, are able store and distribute them.
Few facilities are up to the task as the vaccines need to be stored at particular temperatures. Once they are defrosted, they have to be used within 40 days. A tall order in the worst-hit country, Democratic Republic of Congo, where the country’s health authorities face many logistical challenges.
The BBC reports from a cold storage facility in Kinshasa as mpox vaccines start arriving in the country.
World Courier plays a crucial role in overcoming these challenges through its expertise in last-mile logistics and cold chain capabilities, ensuring that vaccines remain effective and reach those in need despite the difficult conditions.
Topics:
Temperature control
Health equity
