![[생활 속 기계설비이야기] Safe vaccination depends on the cold chain](http://www.kmecnews.co.kr/news/thumbnail/202102/9090_4845_553_v150.jpg "[생활 속 기계설비이야기] Safe vaccination depends on the cold chain")
Free corona vaccine vaccination started sequentially from the end of February
Production-transport-storage-pre-inoculation stage proper temperature maintenance essential
Real-time monitoring by applying smart technology to cold chain
Safe vaccination is possible with mechanical equipment technology such as freezing and air conditioning
From the end of February, the supply of the Corona 19 vaccine will begin in Korea. This news is expected to end the Corona 19 crisis, which has caused social and economic turmoil worldwide. However, some citizens have doubts about the safety of the Corona 19 vaccine and worry,’Can I get the vaccine with confidence?’ Any medicine has large and small side effects. If those side effects are life-threatening, they shouldn’t be used. In particular, there should be no threats to the lives of the people due to poor management in the process of introducing, storing, and transferring vaccines. This time, we will look at how the COVID-19 vaccines introduced in Korea are safely stored, stored, and transported, and what technologies were used in the process. [편집자주]
43.5 million people inoculated this year
According to the Central Defense Response Headquarters, it plans to inoculate a total of 1.3 million Koreans with the Corona 19 vaccine during the first quarter of this year. In addition, 9 million people will be vaccinated for free in the second quarter and 33.5 million people in the third to fourth quarters.
According to this plan, vaccines are scheduled to be delivered sequentially from February. The first product that comes in is AstraZeneca vaccine. In addition, Pfizer says Janssen and Modena’s vaccines will be introduced in stages from the end of March. On the 16th, it is said that they also signed a supply contract with Nova Bax. The government says that it is continuing to consult with the pharmaceutical company to accelerate the introduction period, so we have to wait for the results.
As the vaccination time approaches, I think there are many people around you who are concerned about the safety of the vaccine.
Since it is a vaccination that is conducted in an emergency situation called the Corona 19 pandemic, it will not be able to completely eradicate concerns about side effects. Nevertheless, it seems that the vaccination period cannot be delayed any longer.
Special’Keep Vaccine Temperature’
Even so, it would be important to at least make sure there are no problems in the process of supplying the vaccine. Above all, it is necessary to thoroughly manage the vaccine transfer process so that the product itself does not deteriorate.
The transfer process of the Corona 19 vaccine is largely divided into 4 steps.
First, the first step is to bring the vaccine from abroad and arrive at the airport, step 2 to move the imported vaccine to the warehouse, step 3 to store it in the warehouse, and step 4 to move the stored vaccine to the inoculation center It is.
On the 3rd, at Incheon International Airport in Yeongjong-do, Incheon, the President even held a’mock training for the distribution of Corona 19 vaccine’. It is said that the so-called’Corona 19 vaccine transport operation’ was a training reminiscent of a military operation, so that a security vehicle was attached to the front and rear of the transport vehicle.
Why the hell are you so nervous about transferring the COVID-19 vaccine?
The secret is in the’cold chain’.
‘Cold chain’ originally meant a distribution method through refrigeration and freezing that was prepared to maintain freshness in the distribution process of seafood, meat, fruits and vegetables. As the scope of application of this distribution method is gradually expanded, this technology is being applied to the distribution process of medicines that are likely to change depending on the storage condition.
Cold chains are said to have started in 1940 with Frederick McKinsey Jones’ car coolers. Cold chain requirements are developing in various ways, and it is being developed including humidity, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, as well as specific temperatures, depending on the characteristics of transport products.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced transportation standards related to cold chains, and the standards related to cold chains in Korea are cold storage containers (KST 3004), cold storage vehicles (KSR 4051), and performance test methods for mechanical refrigeration units for transportation. (KSB 6359) etc. are prepared.
The COVID-19 vaccine starting this time should also use this’cold chain system’, because depending on the type of vaccine, it must be kept below a certain temperature so that it does not deteriorate.
The vaccines that are supposed to enter Korea so far are vaccines produced by AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer, Modena, and NovaVax.
The first AstraZeneca vaccine, which is supposed to come in, can be stored for 6 months if the temperature is maintained at 2~8℃. Janssen’s vaccine can be stored for 3 months if maintained at 2~8℃, and for 2 years if stored below -20℃. Moder and vaccines can be stored for 30 days if they are maintained at 2~8℃, and for 6 months if they are below -20℃.
The Pfizer vaccine, which is officially known to have the highest prevention rate, is a little different.
It is said that this vaccine is safe for about 5 days when stored at 2~8℃, and can be stored for 6 months only when it is maintained at -60~-90℃.
Therefore, in order for Korea’s COVID-19 vaccination to proceed safely, products other than the AstraZeneca vaccine must meet cryogenic conditions.
Cold chain’Key’ for refrigeration and air conditioning equipment
Then, what technology factors are reflected in the’cold chain’?
As for the technology related to the cold chain, refrigeration facilities and refrigeration and air conditioning facilities that ensure that the distribution center, transport vehicle, and container maintain the proper temperature are the most important. In addition, the structural design of the building so that these facilities can fulfill their role is also an important factor.
First of all, the containers used when transporting the Corona 19 vaccine can be divided into active type and passive type.
The active type uses an electric device or battery to maintain its own temperature, while the passive type uses a refrigerant to maintain an appropriate temperature. This is a traditional cold chain technology that focuses on maintaining temperature.
Depending on the transportation method, it can be divided into aviation containers and marine containers.In the case of the Corona 19 vaccine, it must be transported by air, considering its urgency and short storage period.
Recently, smart products that can monitor the condition of the product as well as maintain the proper temperature of the product are being introduced. These smart refrigeration equipment has the advantage of being able to track the location, temperature, humidity, and motion of the product in real time.
It is said that Korea will also use smart refrigeration equipment to track the COVID-19 vaccine supply process in real time.
In addition, the distribution warehouse that will store the Corona 19 vaccine is said to be built in consideration of storage performance and unloading performance that can minimize temperature change, insulation performance of storage, and temperature management performance that can maintain different temperature conditions.
In particular, since the cryogenic freezer warehouse where the Corona 19 vaccine will be stored and stored is operated at an extremely low temperature, it is important not to stop the operation of the facility due to defects. So, from the beginning of construction, a construction method that can minimize maintenance is applied. For this reason, the’exposed concrete’ floor construction method that does not require finishing materials is widely applied to cryogenic freezer warehouses.
Distribution facilities used in cryogenic refrigeration distribution centers use low-temperature parts that can be operated at low temperatures.
The representative storage facility is the’automated refrigeration warehouse’, which consists of a freezer and refrigeration stacker crane, an unmanned track vehicle, an unmanned vehicle or unmanned forklift, and a storage facility such as a hi-rack and a control system.
The advantage of this warehouse is that you only need to load the product with a forklift in the entry and exit area, and all subsequent processes are automatically received, stored, and released, so no one has to enter the cryogenic freezer.
The COVID-19 vaccine stored in the cryogenic frozen distribution center will be transferred to 250 vaccination centers nationwide.At this time, the vehicle that will be responsible for transportation has a temperature sensor so that the temperature of the COVID-19 vaccine storage container can be directly monitored from the driver’s seat. Done.
Expecting smart distribution management
We looked at how the Corona 19 vaccine entered Korea, stored and transported, and the technologies applied to the process. It can be seen that various mechanical equipment technologies (freezing and refrigeration technologies) and ICT technologies that have not been well known are reflected. Korea, which applies the’Smart Cold Chain System’, a collection of these technologies, is expected to be able to thoroughly manage at least in the vaccine distribution process.
What is the COVID-19 vaccine?
◇AstraZeneca
As a corona vaccine manufactured in the UK, it has the advantage that it can be distributed at room temperature 2~8℃, not at very low temperatures. As a result of clinical trials, it is said that it has about 70% preventive effect. However, it is a product that is somewhat controversial about the effectiveness of vaccinations over 65 years old.
◇Pfizer
As a vaccine manufactured in the United States, it has the disadvantage of requiring a cryogenic cold system (-70℃) for distribution compared to the high preventive effect of 95%. Nevertheless, it is a product preferred by many countries because it has high preventive effect and has a preventive effect against mutant viruses.
◇Modern or
It is manufactured in the United States and has a high preventive effect of 94%. This product also requires a -20℃ cryogenic cold system. It is said that Korea has decided to introduce about 20 million people.
◇Jansen
This vaccine can be distributed at room temperature and has the advantage of being inoculated once. However, it is evaluated that it is less effective than other vaccines, such as showing a low preventive effect of 66%.
◇Novabacks
It is a vaccine made in the United States, and is said to be 89% effective in preventing. In particular, it is an advantage that it is possible to stably supply and demand through domestic production by promising to transfer vaccine manufacturing technology to domestic companies.
Copyright holder © Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of mechanical equipment newspapers are prohibited.