Data from Trek showed a need to monitor vaccine temperatures during transport through the cold chain. Though Geita and Mwanza are different in size, distribution routes, and local conditions, distribution trips in both regions frequently showed that temperatures were too warm or too cold.
Once the final analysis is completed this summer, the Trek program will serve as a tangible model for others on combining innovative technology into routine practices for monitoring vaccine temperatures during transport; and why real-time data can generate cost-effective solutions to protect the cold chain from end-to-end for an entire country.
Following the upcoming scale-up, Tanzania will be the first known low- and middle-income country with end-to-end vaccine temperature monitoring.
In the coming weeks, we will visit project participants in the field for more in-depth insights into the effect of using Trek in their districts and supporting local stakeholders to finalize the pilot data analysis. Stay tuned!