Covid vaccine: UAE sets up largest cold storage facility

Abu Dhabi - 'Hope Consortium utilises blockchain technology to ensure safe delivery of vaccines.'

Illustrative image: Alamy.com/ae

Ashwani Kumar

Published: Mon 29 Mar 2021, 12:50 PM

Last updated: Mon 29 Mar 2021, 12:57 PM

Rafed, an Abu Dhabi-based healthcare procurement company, has partnered with Abu Dhabi Ports to establish the UAE’s largest cold storage facility for Covid vaccines, a top official has said.

The state-of-the-art facility can store vaccines at temperatures ranging from 8 to -80 degrees Celsius, Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Honorary Chairman of Hope Consortium, said during a virtual summit in Abu Dhabi.

“The distribution centre is located in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad),” he said during the World Immunisation and Logistics Summit that began on Monday.

Al Shorafa noted the Hope Consortium has utilised blockchain technology to ensure safe delivery of vaccines.

“Abu Dhabi Ports recently announced the launch of mUnity, a custom-built digital system that employs blockchain technology to track and trace Covid-19 vaccine sourcing, storage, shipment and all related data in real-time at every step of the vaccine journey.”

Abu Dhabi Ports and Rafed are part of the Hope Consortium.

In the coming months, Al Shorafa underlined that the world is set to face the biggest logistical challenge, but the UAE is initiating steps to tackle the hurdles.

“Even as some semblance of normality is being restored, we are now facing the next phase in the fight against Covid-19, which is perhaps the greatest global logistical challenge in recent human history.

"The UAE’s leadership and government are harnessing their utmost capabilities and potential in the service of humanity .. We need to promote our strategic partnership through the Hope Consortium to work together to quickly and equitably distribute billions of vaccine doses globally by the end of 2021.”