Vax populi: ‘Z+ Security' For Pandemic Era's Vials Of Gold

The High-Security Journey Of The Covid Shot, From Plant To Patient

- Rupali Mukherjee & Partha Sinha

Mumbai: In a pandemic stricken world, an antidote is worth its weight in gold. And like gold, a Covid vaccine is presumably a precious thing that needs protecting. Think rifle-wielding escorts for vehicles transporting vaccines, just like a cash-dispensing van on an ATM sortie.

Companies, logistics firms, governments and hospitals are already ramping up infrastructure to safeguard vials of Covid vaccine against the looming risk of theft, burglary and pilferage. That’s not all — both vaccine makers and governments need to be alert to the possibility of counterfeiting and a potential grey market.

Vaccine makers and supply chain and logistics providers admit to being wary of “weak links” such as distribution centres, warehouses, truck stops and hospitals with lax security. Logistics and transportation companies are working towards secured solutions at a frantic pace to ensure that these holes are plugged.

“With the high demand and limited availability of Covid-19 vaccines, the system should be geared up to prevent any attempts of theft, pilferage or misuse. A representative from the office of the drugs controller should be included in the state, district and block-level task force,” states the Centre’s operational guidelines.