COVAX momentum continues – but there is still much to be done.
Last month, COVAX reached an extraordinary milestone with the delivery of more than 1.5 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to 145 countries and territories.
Since the start of the pandemic, we have been enabling delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to people around the world, with temperature controlled shipping solutions that keep vaccinations safe and efficacious from point of manufacture to people’s arms.
And just recently, on June 18, the US sent 302,400 pediatric doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Mongolia – a COVAX delivery with support from USAID.
Earlier in the month, COVAX also supported the delivery of 58,500 COVID-19 vaccine doses in Mali. Thanks to MSDS, the US Embassy in Mali, COVAX, UNICEF and other partners – as well as a secure cold chain – safe and effective vaccines continue to reach populations across the globe.
COVAX vaccines being transported in Softbox by CSafe parcel shippers in June 2022.
These recent consignments are just latest in a steady stream of donations through COVAX facilities. Just before this, the US donated 23,400 COVID-19 vaccine doses that arrived safely Kiribati.
COVID-19 vaccines arriving in Kiribati. Photo © UNICEFPacific/2022/Temakei
Throughout Spring we saw further COVAX donations reach destinations around the world – from Armenia to Zambia and countless others. Pictured below are our Silverpod pallet shippers containing COVID-19 vaccines as part of the UNICEF, GAVI, CEPI, WHO COVID-19 vaccine consignment in Armenia in March.
And in April, the US Department of State announced that US had donated 529 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to over 110 countries and economies – we were proud to see our temperature control systems in the coverage of this World Immunization Week milestone, too.
These incredible efforts are testament to the hard work and collaboration shown by so many, and these deliveries will protect public health and economies. But lack of vaccine equity remains – and there is still much work to be done.
The cold chain is part of this continued focus. As we know, COVID-19 vaccines are temperature-sensitive, and can be spoiled or lose efficacy if this chain is broken – so our work continues in earnest too.