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The risk that vaccines will be stolen and diverted on to the black market has put the pharmaceutical industry on high alert as it prepares to support the biggest global vaccination effort in history.
“We need to tell people at the vaccine centres that they carry gold,” said Thorsten Neumann, head of the European arm of Tapa, a supply chain security association. “Criminals don’t see a vaccine load, they see money,” he said, highlighting the risk that supply chain workers with existing links to criminal networks could provide information to enable those groups to target shipments.
The industry is prepared. Efforts to improve security in recent years have led to manufacturers introducing regular audits and vetting of supply chains, as well as minimizing human contact, stops and handovers during distribution.
Criminals don’t see a vaccine load, they see money
Thorsten Neumann, head of the European arm of Tapa
“Pharmaceutical manufacturers are already spending a lot of time to make sure their products and their supply chain is secure,” said Chuck Forsaith, head of the Pharmaceutical Cargo Security Coalition, an industry association. “I don’t think there is any other industry on the globe that is as prepared for something like this.”
Shipments are regularly fitted with real-time digital devices which measure temperature and location, reporting back any divergence from the plan. The technology ensures the integrity of the supply chain, though it could also be a vulnerability.
While Forsaith said there appeared to be no evidence of any physical raids on the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain so far, numerous cyber attacks have been documented.
