Revolution in Vaccine Logistics: Drone Delivery in Ghana

In the remote clinic of New Tafo Akyem in Ghana, dozens of women bring their babies for yellow fever vaccination. Only a few years ago, spoiled vaccines due to the summer heat would have left many of these children unvaccinated, a scenario the World Health Organization refers to as "missed opportunities." Today, it suffices for community nurse Gladys Tetteh to send a free text message. Within 15 minutes, a drone-delivered, insulated cold pack arrives at the clinic. This technology ensures that vaccines safely make the journey from a specially built, refrigerated distribution center in nearby Omenako. Experts emphasize that the use of drones and cold packs to extend the so-called cold chain in the global south will be crucial in the fight against diseases, especially as vaccine development advances through mRNA technology. Driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, mRNA technology enables the production of vaccines within 300 days. While traditional vaccines can be stored at temperatures between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, mRNA vaccines require extremely low temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius to remain effective. This technology is particularly valuable for poorer countries where refrigeration is a challenge. Drone deliveries, overcoming poor road infrastructure, are thus essential, not just in Ghana, but also in countries like Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire. Simultaneously, training in handling the cold chain is crucial, as an estimated 30 percent of vaccine losses are due to human error. In Rwanda, a cooling center in the capital, Kigali, is testing energy-efficient solutions incorporating artificial intelligence to scale up cold chain supply. Scientists and vaccine manufacturers, including the Future Vaccines Manufacturing Hub at the University of Oxford, VaxHub, are working intensively to make mRNA vaccines more thermostable. These efforts could make vaccine availability more equitable and less susceptible to climate issues, which showcased an immense imbalance during the Covid-19 pandemic. The potential of mRNA technology is also evident in combatting other diseases, including cancer and rare metabolic disorders. Viruses that use human cells for protein production can be specifically targeted by mRNA vaccines. "In a way, we are playing the viruses' game with these mRNA vaccines using their own tools," says Christopher Green, clinical researcher and NHS physician. The "100 Days Mission" by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations aims to develop and deploy vaccines within 100 days of the emergence of a new disease. An mRNA vaccine for the Mpox outbreak is currently being tested in the United Kingdom and is considered a critical step in the global fight against viral diseases.