Dry Ice Is Essential for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Based on current projections, up to 50 million COVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed globally in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021. Some vaccines in development must maintain a consistent temperature of approximately −109.3 °F (-78.5 °C) during storage and shipment to remain stable and viable, which presents a logistical challenge in the global distribution. This is where Cold Jet® is making a difference with its dry ice production and equipment.

“Dosing dry ice directly into temperature-controlled thermal shippers is the only way to maintain that temperature level during transit and storage.”

Pharmaceutical and logistics companies as well as governmental agencies need to create an ultra-low temperature cold chain in order to keep vaccines below sub-zero temperatures. Currently, the existing refrigerated transport infrastructure and supply chain is not prepared to handle these types of shipments. Dry ice, made of recycled CO2, will be essential in the safe distribution of every single one of these doses. It sublimates without creating any waste or residue, making it the perfect refrigerating medium during the shipment of vaccines.

“Dosing dry ice directly into temperature-controlled thermal shippers is the only way to maintain that temperature level during transit and storage,” said Wim Eeckelaers, Managing Director, EMEA, Cold Jet. “At all points in the vaccine transportation and distribution cold chain, dry ice is needed to maintain temperature.”

Dry ice has long been an essential contributor to the global economy. However, it has taken on a new responsibility in humanity’s fight against COVID-19. Once dry ice reaches local communities, it will be further divided up and sent to vaccination centers, public and mobile clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies. Cold Jet is working with local distributors around the world to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of all communities, whether they are in the inner-city or in hard to reach rural areas.

The World Health Organization cites inadequate cold chain capacity as a major issue to vaccine distribution in developing economies. In recent years, millions of doses of vaccines were lost due to cold chain failures. Cold Jet’s Dry Ice Production Hub helps solve this issue. “We want to guarantee that any person, no matter where they live in the world, is able to obtain a safe and viable vaccine,” said Dennis Hjort, Vice President – Global Dry Ice Manufacturing Systems, Cold Jet.

Cold Jet’s dry ice production machines are capable of producing up to 1,600 pounds (750 kilograms) per hour and are engineered to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From the packaging lines at a multinational pharmaceutical company to distribution centers at global logistics companies and locally within hundreds of communities around the world, Cold Jet machines are producing dry ice at all points in the vaccine distribution cold chain.

“The impact of COVID-19 on global health and the global economy has been painful, but Cold Jet is extremely proud to play such a vital part in the distribution process of a vaccine,” said Eeckelaers.