The Government of Japan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on December 7, 2021 handed over an initial donation of cold chain equipment being provided to the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), to support the drive for effective and inclusive COVID-19 vaccination in Jamaica.
Cold chain equipment is essential to ensure that some COVID-19 vaccines are transported to vaccination sites across the island and stored at the right temperature in order to maintain vaccine quality.
The initial donation of 85 cold boxes valued at approximately USD $20,000 will help ensure adequate storage and transportation of vaccines in line with international standards.
The full donation of equipment includes 80 deep freezers to be installed at high volume vaccination sites, 300 vaccine carriers, 370 cold boxes, 2,000 ice packs, 281 temperature monitoring devices and two large vehicles with refrigeration capacity.
The Government of Japan’s donation covered the total cost of all supplies. UNICEF Jamaica managed the procurement through its Supply Division which has been supporting the global effort to respond to the pandemic.
The collaborative effort by the Government of Japan and UNICEF will also cover an assessment of Jamaica’s cold chain and vaccine supply management system and training of technicians and relevant health facility staff members in the operation and maintenance of the cold chain equipment.
Additionally, the contribution covers the implementation of a digital platform to support real-time monitoring of vaccination rates and communication with members of the public.
Japan is investing a total of US$11.1 million to support vaccine delivery in six countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean.
