COVID-19 has placed the greatest strain on healthcare systems in living memory, and the consequences go far beyond the spread of the virus itself. A devastating report by Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, estimates that at least 13.5 million people in some of the poorest nations will miss their routine vaccinations due to programme delays and disruptions.

So far, 14 major vaccination campaigns against polio, measles, cholera, HPV, yellow fever and meningitis have been postponed, as have four national vaccine introductions. To address this severe setback, Gavi has released substantial and immediate resource [1] to ensure programme continuity.

It’s vital that everybody pulls together so we are ready to support any future vaccination programmes. To that end, Dulas’ refrigerator manufacturing division has taken prompt action to safeguard production and service.

Dulas remains open for business and is here for you

We know that our life-saving cold chain equipment is needed now more than ever, and we want to reassure our clients that we are doing all we can to provide continuity and stability through this time of crisis. Despite the global backdrop, our manufacturing plant in the UK is working hard to ensure that there is no slow-down in our order fulfilment.

Dulas has its roots in ethical, humanitarian business and has deployed its innovative medical equipment to nearly every country in the developing world in a bid to save lives. Dulas’ solar power systems and vaccine refrigerators have supported recovery through many global disasters, including the 2011 Philippines typhoon and the devastating 2016 Ebola outbreak in Africa.

There is currently no confirmed vaccination against COVID-19, but teams of scientists around the globe are working hard to develop a vaccine. When that breakthrough comes, if the resulting vaccine needs refrigeration, we know that our equipment may play a key role in preventing the spread of the virus given Dulas’ track record of providing cold chain solutions since 1982.

In addition to vaccine and blood storage, there is also increased international demand for medical equipment that aids respiratory difficulties and general healthcare. Dulas is able to design and supply solar systems to provide uninterrupted power to health centres to enable the use of ventilators, oxygen concentrators and lights. Our refrigerators can also be supplied with a ‘Solar Socket’ that harvests excess energy from the solar system and diverts the power to other useful items, such as mobile phones, laptops or lamps, without affecting the performance of the refrigerator whatsoever.

So if your hospital or health centre requires power at this crucial time, we can provide a flexible package to ensure the lights stay on, even if the power is off.

Ruth Chapman, Dulas’ Managing Director, states that, “we’ve increased production in our manufacturing plant and worked with our suppliers to ensure we can meet demand. We have significant experience of working in countries with challenging conditions and getting cold chain equipment and power supplies to those who urgently need it. We are ready to do this and will work closely with charities and government organisations to mobilise immediate care.”

Gavi’s CEO Dr Seth Berkley, states that “the legacy of COVID-19 must not include the global resurgence of other killers like measles and polio”. Here at Dulas, we’ll be doing our utmost to ensure that a remission in global vaccination rates doesn’t happen.

Whatever happens over the coming months, Dulas’ team will be keeping an eye on the news, and we will continue to work closely with our international partners to ensure that our cold-chain technology is delivered to all regions, to the very last mile.

 

 

[1] Gavi is redirecting 10% of its funding for health systems for immediate use https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/covid-19-massive-impact-lower-income-countries-threatens-more-disease-outbreaks