{"id":142218,"date":"2021-04-09T05:00:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/?p=142218"},"modified":"2021-04-07T10:45:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T10:45:05","slug":"greater-collaboration-tech-needed-for-effective-vaccine-rollout-in-kenya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.sap.com\/africa\/2021\/04\/greater-collaboration-tech-needed-for-effective-vaccine-rollout-in-kenya\/","title":{"rendered":"Greater collaboration, tech needed for effective vaccine rollout in Kenya"},"content":{"rendered":"
As we mark one year since the global COVID-19 pandemic hit Africa, all eyes are on countries’ ability to secure, import and distribute the vaccines that have been proven effective in the fight against the novel coronavirus.<\/p>\n
The pandemic has highlighted the glaring gap between the developed and developing world. Wealthy nations have been able to source and stockpile hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine, while many poorer countries, including those in Africa, are still in the planning and procurement stages.<\/p>\n
Kenya requires 30 million vaccine doses in order to vaccinate 60% of its population<\/a>, which is in line with the guidelines released by GAVI to achieve herd immunity<\/a>. The country is expecting to receive 24 million doses of the Oxford\/AstraZeneca vaccine through the WHO’s COVAX facility, with 12 million more doses expected via bilateral agreements. Kenya will also receive additional doses via the African Union’s African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team, although details around this are still vague.<\/p>\n While it’s hugely encouraging that more vaccines are becoming available and that Kenyan citizens could soon receive much-needed doses, immense challenges remain.<\/p>\n Supply chain constraints challenge vaccine rollout<\/strong><\/p>\n The distribution and administration of vaccines at the scale of COVID-19 is a monumental challenge. There is much at stake because disruptions in the supply chain can prevent the delivery of the vaccine and negatively impact public trust.<\/p>\n Delays are paid for with human lives and push out the prospect of herd immunity. Reacting quickly to unexpected interruptions is key and is only possible if the entire supply chain, from procurement to production and delivery, is managed end-to-end.<\/p>\n According to the World Health Organisation’s Vaccine Introduction Readiness Assessment Tool<\/a>, African countries have an overall score of only 33% preparedness for rolling out vaccines to their populations.<\/p>\n The challenge is compounded by the very specific conditions under which vaccines must be stored, transported and handled throughout the supply chain.<\/p>\n Pharmaceutical companies leverage technology<\/strong><\/p>\n Thankfully, many of the leading pharmaceutical companies responsible for developing and producing COVID-19 vaccines have built extensive digital capabilities. Today, 18 of the world\u2019s 20 major vaccine producers are already running their production on 51风流solutions that cover their end-to-end processes, from manufacturing to controlled distribution to administration and post-vaccine monitoring.<\/p>\n