ACQUIRING vaccines is one challenge, transporting them is another. How do we safely transport vaccines that need to be kept cooler than Antarctic temperatures?
In a country of 7,107 islands perpetually bathed in tropical heat, transporting perishable goods has always been difficult. In agriculture, for instance, gaps in the cold chain such as a lack of freezers at post-harvest facilities resulted in food spoilage, reducing the incomes of farmers and fishermen. That’s why when it was announced that vaccines have to be stored between regular fridge temperatures and -70 Celsius, health experts had every reason to be concerned.
But according to Coolaire President and chief executive officer (CEO) Jerry Tugade and his sons Joel and Patrick – both of whom help their father run the family business – we already have a big piece of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) logistics puzzle solved. We don’t have to look far for a transport solution. In fact, we already see the technology daily on our city streets.
The answer is to use refrigerated trucks.
Coolaire has partnered with Global Autodistribution Incorporated (GAI), the official distributor of JMC Trucks and Commercial Vehicles in the country, led by President and CEO Lyndon Go, to produce these temperature-controlled vehicles. They can be mounted on different platforms of JMC models. “We, at JMC, know the vital roles our trucks will play in transporting the COVID vaccines all over the country. Our trucks are equipped with engines with the latest technology and power to handle any kind of situation on the road. JMC trucks’ safety features will guarantee the welfare of truckload and of course, the protection of people both inside and outside the vehicle for any incidents.” said GAI President and CEO Lyndon Go. “JMC is ready to be your reliable partner in beating the COVID virus!”
The need to bring the vaccines to the farthest areas of the country is the goal. “The scale requires these [vaccines] to be in place in all parts of the country to benefit the 110 million Filipinos waiting to be inoculated,” said Jerry. “To distribute it from one place to another under the right temperature conditions represents a bottleneck that can be solved by procuring COVID-ready refrigerated trucks, such as those produced by JMC with Coolaire.”
Refrigerated trucks are a practical logistics choice for the vaccines. They’re more cost-friendly than building a network of climate-controlled warehouses, and more mobile than specialized tractor-trailers. As distribution moves from cities to rural areas – especially in towns without cold chain storage facilities – the speed and carrying capacity of refrigerated vans will be crucial if the goal is to get even the most far-flung Filipinos vaccinated.
As for the technology that keeps the vaccines from spoiling, Joel says they have it. Together, Autoglobal and Coolaire have over 60 years of experience, working with clients from different industries including food and pharmaceuticals “Using correct and calibrated refrigeration equipment is vital in the process of distribution, all the way to inoculation,” said Joel. “These specialized equipment are engineered by Coolaire, making it applicable for all brands of COVID vaccines.”
An effective logistics system not only has to have the machines to deliver the goods, but also have support that ensures the machines are always in tip-top shape. With the vaccination period lasting months, if not, longer, local government units (LGUs) will have to consider technical and engineering support when procuring refrigerated vans. Patrick explained that Coolaire’s after-service locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao can readily handle any emergencies that pop up, reducing delays and bottlenecks in vaccine distribution. “To the LGU and operators, this means that for any technical issue, help is only one call away,” he says. “To the Filipino people, this means peace of mind.”
The COVID logistics puzzle is taking shape, but it is not yet complete. In truly remote areas where there are no airports, ports, or even roads, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases will still have to come up with a last-mile plan (one possible solution could be solar-powered cold “backpacks” which are now being tested out in Africa). But for the majority of the population, Patrick confidently said their refrigerated vans can get the job done.
“For the past half century, JMC and Coolaire have been making its clients happy,” concluded Lyndon and Jerry. “In this upheaval we’re all in, we know our technology and cold chain experience can also deliver happiness to the rest of the country.”/PN
