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New Normal, Digital Transformation, Industry 4.0
Trust | Transparency | Traceability
Vaccine Delivery Proof of Immunity
Proof of Immunity: “an intuitive idea based on technology that provides proof of receiving vaccine a reality.”
Technological advances in immunology, protein design, and genetic delivery have unlocked new possibilities for vaccine concepts and delivery technologies that were previously inaccessible. There is currently intense research activity aimed at the development of new delivery systems for vaccines. There are examples around the world, including few pilot projects where all the healthcare data services are transferred to a futuristic digital system called Blockchain which is secure, easily accessible, and introduces accountability to the healthcare system.
- Issue of Scalability: The problems in India are much larger, due to infrastructure challenges, high temperature and a large number of people to be vaccinated. Every year, India inoculates on average 58 million children and pregnant women. This year, an additional 300 million people are estimated to get the COVID-19 vaccine over the next 6-8 months. India also has 27 million people with comorbidities who are the priority cases for effective vaccination programs.
- Pain Point: Vaccine-tracking and monitoring of storage conditions followed by precise delivery to the target population is a concern.
- Note/Opportunity: The Blockchain itself would enable confidence for everyone from the pharmaceutical supply chain, down to doctors and recipients of vaccines; that it has been verified along every step, and safe for distribution. Since the data resides in a blockchain is tamper-proof, people can feel safe when a vaccine is available.
Benefits: In fact, Blockchain can be applied across many functions in healthcare namely, neuroscience, EHR medical, genomics medicine, biomedicine, clinical trials, vaccine supply and traceability (along with IoT can help in better tracking) in the pharma industry. The benefits derived through blockchain usage in vaccine administration are:
- Increased Efficiency
- Reduced Cost
- Scalable
- Verifiable and Auditable as required
The traceability aspect of Blockchain offers many compelling use cases, particularly amidst a crisis like COVID-19. While it may be uncertain at this time what percentage of the population will initially seek the COVID-19 vaccine, there may be an overwhelming demand for this vaccine on a level not seen in recent times. Manufacturers will be working hard to meet any sizable demand, and distributors will be fighting to acquire the product for their customers on priority. After initial distribution, the anticipation for higher demand may continue for many months.
Need of the Hour: Vaccine effectiveness is a combination of vaccine efficacy and field conditions such as coverage, immune status of the population, and conditions under which the vaccine was administered.
ETgarage is in the process of building a solution that enables a trusted authentication process, to create more efficiencies for healthcare practitioners and officials, in delivery of vaccine and management of related digital health records.
Reference
Is Blockchain Key to COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution?. https://www.contractpharma.com/content-microsite/covid-19/2020-08-05/is-blockchain-key-to-covid-19-vaccine-distribution
Written and complied by Prateek Bebortha, Business analyst, ETgarage
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