AstraZeneca and Pfizer Vaccine Distribution to Be Managed by SK Bioscience

Preparation for Vaccination Including Supply of Ultra-Low Temperature Freezers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 22nd that SK Bioscience has been selected as the executing agency for the establishment and operation of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution management system and has completed the contract. Accordingly, SK Bioscience will be responsible for the distribution and storage of AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer vaccines, and COVAX Facility vaccine supplies.

SK Bioscience plans to operate a system that monitors in real-time whether temperature is maintained and the delivery route during vaccine transportation by establishing a customized cold chain management system for each vaccine.

M2Cloud is participating as a partner company to build an IoT-based integrated control center to establish real-time temperature management and vaccine location tracking systems. GTreeBNT and Dongwon iFarm are participating as distribution partners. Dongwon iFarm is responsible for securing Korea Ultra-Low Temperature logistics warehouses for storing vaccines at -75℃ and building logistics centers.

Installation of ultra-low temperature freezers to maintain the cold chain for Pfizer vaccines is also underway. Ultra-low temperature freezers will be equipped and installed at vaccination centers, which are mRNA vaccine inoculation institutions, to maintain vaccine storage conditions and ensure that vaccinations proceed smoothly within the vaccine's expiration period.

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, “Establishing a thorough vaccine distribution management system is the most important core task for safe vaccination, so we will prepare meticulously and without any setbacks until the vaccination is implemented.”