The logistics service provider trans-o-flex, which specialises in pharmaceutical distribution, ensures the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines to vaccination centres throughout Bavaria. One special feature here is that trans-o-flex transports the consignments in vehicles with active temperature control. These vehicles have a unit for the load compartment that cools or heats depending on the outside temperature in order to keep the temperature of the load compartment constant between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. The contract for the state-wide distribution from the Bavarian storage sites of the Covid-19 vaccine to around 100 different locations (in addition to vaccination centres, also the storage sites for Covid-19 vaccines designated by urban and rural districts) was awarded to trans-o-flex by the Free State Ministry of Health. "Our active direct transport scheduling, the vehicle technology deployed featuring GPS tracking and active temperature control, as well as a special task force for Covid-19 vaccine logistics, not only ensure maximum security but also the necessary transparency in the supply chain for the sensitive goods," says Wolfgang P. Albeck, CEO of trans-o-flex.

If vaccines have to be transported at temperatures other than 2 to 8 degrees Celsius according to the manufacturer’s specifications, trans-o-flex receives the corresponding consignments in special packaging that is additionally equipped with cooling elements and a data logger depending on the product requirements. These data loggers measure the temperature inside the boxes and store it reliably so that the temperature profile can be documented and checked later. "The active temperature control has two decisive advantages in this context," explains Albeck. "Should a defect ever occur in the special packaging, we can ensure and document that the goods have been transported in a controlled environment. The manufacturer can then decide, based on our documentation, whether or not the effectiveness of the vaccine has been compromised by the damage to the packaging." This is because the temperature inside the vehicles’ load compartment is displayed, checked and documented both in the vehicle and in the central scheduling system. According to Albeck, the second decisive advantage of active temperature control is: as soon as vaccines that remain stable over a longer period of time, also at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, are approved in Europe, we will no longer need the complex and expensive special packaging in our vehicles and specialised storage locations. This reduces the freight weight, you also save on the return of the packaging and the cooling elements, and you can implement even more efficient logistics concepts."