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Vaccine distribution chains in low- and middle-income countries: A literature review

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  • De Boeck, Kim
  • Decouttere, Catherine
  • Vandaele, Nico

Abstract

Access to immunization varies greatly across the world. In order to increase vaccine coverage, the required vaccines need to be able to reach the targeted population. However, in low- and middle-income countries, this often turns out to be a challenging task. This article provides a literature review on vaccine distribution chains in low- and middle-income countries and consists of two main parts. The first part elaborates on the characteristics and challenges inherent to such distribution chains. In order to obtain a complete overview, both quantitative and qualitative papers are included. In the second part, relevant operations research and operations management literature is structured according to seven classification criteria: decision level, methodology, part of the vaccine distribution chain modelled, uncertainties and characteristics covered, performance measures, real-life applicability, and countries and vaccines covered. Throughout these classifications, a comparison is made between the issues reported in practice and those investigated in the operations research and operations management literature. Based on this analysis, we identify trends and conclude that several gaps exist, providing a promising avenue for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • De Boeck, Kim & Decouttere, Catherine & Vandaele, Nico, 2020. "Vaccine distribution chains in low- and middle-income countries: A literature review," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jomega:v:97:y:2020:i:c:s0305048319304098
    DOI: 10.1016/j.omega.2019.08.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Proano, Ruben A. & Jacobson, Sheldon H. & Zhang, Wenbo, 2012. "Making combination vaccines more accessible to low-income countries: The antigen bundle pricing problem," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 53-64, January.
    2. Maryam Mofrad & Lisa Maillart & Bryan Norman & Jayant Rajgopal, 2014. "Dynamically optimizing the administration of vaccines from multi-dose vials," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(7), pages 623-635.
    3. Catherine Decouttere & Nico Vandaele & Stef Lemmens & Mauro Bernuzzi, 2016. "The Vaccine Supply Chain Multathlon: the Reconciliation of Technology, Economy and Access to Medicines," International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, in: Christopher W. Zobel & Nezih Altay & Mark P. Haselkorn (ed.), Advances in Managing Humanitarian Operations, chapter 10, pages 205-227, Springer.
    4. Duijzer, Lotty Evertje & van Jaarsveld, Willem & Dekker, Rommert, 2018. "Literature review: The vaccine supply chain," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(1), pages 174-192.
    5. Cliford E. Ebong & Pierre Lévy, 2011. "Impact of the introduction of new vaccines and vaccine wastage rate on the cost-effectiveness of routine EPI: lessons from a descriptive study in a Cameroonian health district," Post-Print hal-01293723, HAL.
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    7. Aswin Dhamodharan & Ruben Proano, 2012. "Determining the optimal vaccine vial size in developing countries: a Monte Carlo simulation approach," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 188-196, September.
    8. Mario Songane, 2018. "Challenges for nationwide vaccine delivery in African countries," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 197-219, June.
    9. Mofrad, Maryam H. & Garcia, Gian-Gabriel P. & Maillart, Lisa M. & Norman, Bryan A. & Rajgopal, Jayant, 2016. "Customizing immunization clinic operations to minimize open vial waste," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-17.
    10. Lee, B.Y. & Assi, T.-M. & Rajgopal, J. & Norman, B.A. & Chen, S.-I. & Brown, S.T. & Slayton, R.B. & Kone, S. & Kenea, H. & Welling, J.S. & Connor, D.L. & Wateska, A.R. & Jana, A. & Wiringa, A.E. & Van, 2012. "Impact of introducing the pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines into the routine immunization program in Niger," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(2), pages 269-276.
    11. Sheng-I Chen & Bryan A. Norman & Jayant Rajgopal & Tina M. Assi & Bruce Y. Lee & Shawn T. Brown, 2014. "A planning model for the WHO-EPI vaccine distribution network in developing countries," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(8), pages 853-865, August.
    12. Landry Kaucley & Pierre Lévy, 2015. "Cost-effectiveness analysis of routine immunization and supplementary immunization activity for measles in a health district of Benin," Post-Print hal-01293606, HAL.
    13. Sheng-I Chen & Bryan Norman & Jayant Rajgopal & Bruce Lee, 2015. "Passive cold devices for vaccine supply chains," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 230(1), pages 87-104, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    1. Hu, Hui & Xu, Jiajun & Liu, Mengqi & Lim, Ming K., 2023. "Vaccine supply chain management: An intelligent system utilizing blockchain, IoT and machine learning," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. De Boeck, Kim & Decouttere, Catherine & Jónasson, Jónas Oddur & Vandaele, Nico, 2022. "Vaccine supply chains in resource-limited settings: Mitigating the impact of rainy season disruptions," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(1), pages 300-317.
    3. Tang, Lianhua & Li, Yantong & Bai, Danyu & Liu, Tao & Coelho, Leandro C., 2022. "Bi-objective optimization for a multi-period COVID-19 vaccination planning problem," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    4. Dell’Amico, Mauro & Montemanni, Roberto & Novellani, Stefano, 2021. "Algorithms based on branch and bound for the flying sidekick traveling salesman problem," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    5. Fadaki, Masih & Abareshi, Ahmad & Far, Shaghayegh Maleki & Lee, Paul Tae-Woo, 2022. "Multi-period vaccine allocation model in a pandemic: A case study of COVID-19 in Australia," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Rey, David & Hammad, Ahmed W. & Saberi, Meead, 2023. "Vaccine allocation policy optimization and budget sharing mechanism using reinforcement learning," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. Vahdani, Behnam & Mohammadi, Mehrdad & Thevenin, Simon & Gendreau, Michel & Dolgui, Alexandre & Meyer, Patrick, 2023. "Fair-split distribution of multi-dose vaccines with prioritized age groups and dynamic demand: The case study of COVID-19," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 310(3), pages 1249-1272.
    8. Choudhury, Nishat Alam & Ramkumar, M. & Schoenherr, Tobias & Singh, Shalabh, 2023. "The role of operations and supply chain management during epidemics and pandemics: Potential and future research opportunities," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    9. Gilani, Hani & Sahebi, Hadi, 2022. "A data-driven robust optimization model by cutting hyperplanes on vaccine access uncertainty in COVID-19 vaccine supply chain," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).

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