This month has seen the rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, forecasts that "tens of millions" of Covid-19 vaccinations will be administered over the next three months. But how can such a large-scale rapid rollout of vaccines be accurately monitored, and effectively delivered, especially when a programme like this is completely unprecedented? IPMT Associate, Hannah Schofield and Consultant (Tech Hub) Lavan Thasarathakumar explore how Blockchain could have helped.

Given the number of stakeholders and stages involved, the rollout of any new drug or vaccine will have its complexities. The Covid-19 vaccine has added complications due to the fact that there are several different vaccines, all of which have different storage requirements. In addition, patients require two doses of the same vaccine, so suppliers and medical professionals must ensure patients receive the same vaccine for their subsequent dose.

Aside from the sheer volume and meticulous process required, the COVID-19 vaccine programme requires a new, unprecedented level of cross-border and cross-industry coordination and cooperation. This includes supplying in emerging markets which have less developed infrastructure and which face a greater risk of counterfeits. This requires a well-functioning supply chain. However having so many intermediaries increases the risk of interception and leaves many opportunities and gaps where mistakes, damage or even purposeful exploitation can occur.

How can Blockchain help?