UNICEF supported the unique technological innovation approach to ensuring efficient vaccine storage at the recommended temperature range to minimize vaccine wastage at cold chain points (CCP) in the most remote areas, such as Odisha’s Rayagada district, where electric supply is a challenge.
To solve the off-grid refrigeration problem, Solar Direct Drive (SDD) vaccine refrigerators were put in Rayagada’s remote PHCs, where power outages are common. After the SDD was installed, these remote PHCs were turned into cold chain points (CCP). This makes it easier to do immunization sessions because it takes less time to get vaccines to the immunization points. Rayagada received four SDDs out of the total of 18 SDDs distributed in Odisha. Rayagada, with 11 tribal blocks and 2667 villages, is one of the most difficult terrains in Odisha, covered in hills and forests with intermittent power supplies and home to 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
This technological help makes sure that immunization sessions go smoothly by giving existing and new CCPs the tools they need to store and deliver vaccines closer to remote communities. With help from the Government of Japan, UNICEF obtained the SDDs to solve the problem of off-grid vaccine refrigeration in these remote hamlets. This will strengthen the COVID-19 vaccination and the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) by adding cold chain points at the “last mile” that would not have been served otherwise.
