The Banking Executive Magazine - April 2021

The COVID-19 VACCINES generated immense excitement, but healthcare systems around the world now face the complex task of secur- ing and distributing supplies and ad- ministrating vaccines. Acquiring sufficient quantities is just the start. The vaccines must then be trans- ported safely to multiple destina- tions, maintained at the right temperature, and tracked at all times to avoid tampering and assure prod- uct integrity and delivery. The World Economic Forum foresees that vaccines to be effective in con- taining the pandemic, they must be made widely available across the globe in a short space of time, which is putting increased pressure on gov- ernments, multilateral organizations, manufacturers, supply chain compa- nies and community organizations. According to ESRI, the producer of the world’s most powerful mapping & spatial analytics software, and the International Air Transport Associa- tion, approximately 25 percent of shipped vaccines are compromised due to poor temperature manage- ment. VACCINE GUIDELINES The World Health Organisation WHO and UNICEF put the COVID- 19 vaccination supply and logistics guidance in February 2021. The guidance provides details about vac- cines profiles, supply strategies, COVAX Supply Chain , preplanning, core functions and logistics, deploy- ment, operations, reception of vac- cines, storage of vaccines, repackaging vaccines, production or purchase of coolant packs, trans- portation of vaccine, reverse logis- tics, managing recalls, management of supply chain information, trace- ability and vaccines rapid informa- tion, securing the supply chain, budgeting and financial manage- ment, vaccine store infrastructure and power requirements, health care waste management, human re- sources training, capacity building, and assessed country preparedness activities. The COVID-19 Tools Accelerator COVAX facility is co-led by CEPI, Gavi and WHO, alongside key deliv- ery partner UNICEF, and PAHO Re- volving Fund America procurement agent for COVAX. COVAX aims to accelerate equitable access to appro- priate, safe and efficient vaccines for all countries. VACCINE POLICIES According to CNN news, Microsoft, Oracle and other tech giants teamed up to develop Covid-19 vaccine passports. Biggest tech firms and health care organizations have joined together in the Vaccine Cre- dential Initiative that ensures that everyone has access to a secure, dig- ital record of their Covid-19 vaccina- tion. This digital record is like a digital vaccine passport and can be used for everything from airline travel to entering concert venues. The coalition comprises a broad range of health care and tech leaders including Microsoft, Salesforce, Or- acle, CERN, Cigna, Epic and the Mayo Clinic, and others. IMPACT ON STOCK MARKET According to the Guardian news, Pfizer chief sold $5.6m of shares on day of Covid-19 vaccine announce- ment. CNBC news foresee that COVID-19 vaccines are creating market winners and losers and sparking optimism that the pandemic end may be ap- proaching. Analysts see that vaccines are fuelling hope of a return to nor- mal soon. ISSUE 148 APRIL 2021 the BANKING EXECUTIVE 57