The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network, which provides technological solutions for strengthening immunisation supply chain systems, has reached 32 states and Union territories, and will be rolled-out in the remaining areas soon, the health ministry has announced.
In a statement, the ministry said on Monday, the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) aims to provide real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperatures across all cold chain points in the country.
“This robust system has been used with the requisite customisation during the COVID-19 pandemic for ensuring continuation of the essential immunisation services and protecting our children and pregnant mothers against vaccine preventable diseases,” it said.
The eVIN has reached 32 states and Union territories (UTs) and will soon be introduced in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Ladakh and Sikkim. “At present, 23,507 cold chain points across 585 districts of 22 states and two UTs routinely use the eVIN technology for efficient vaccine logistics management. Over 41,420 vaccine cold chain handlers have been introduced to digital record-keeping by training them on eVIN,” the statement said.
Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN)
It is a unique innovation that brings together technology, people and processes to strengthen the vaccine supply chain by digitising information on vaccine stocks and storage temperatures.
Supported by GAVI-the Vaccine Alliance, the health systems strengthening project aims to streamline and regularize the vaccine flow network by ensuring data-driven and efficient management of the immunization supply chain.
The goal is to ensure equity in easy and timely availability of vaccines to all children. eVIN is digitsing vaccine stocks at all 27,000 vaccine storage centres across all districts of 29 states and 7 union territories of India; facilitating real-time monitoring of storage temperatures by installation of nearly 50,000 temperature loggers, building capacity of nearly 37,000 government personnel for vaccine and cold chain logistic management on eVIN; deploying vaccine and cold chain managers in every district for constant supportive supervision.
The integrated solution combines:
Technology: to facilitate evidence-based decision-making by making available online real-time information on vaccine stocks and storage temperature through the eVIN application software and temperature loggers;
Governance: to ensure efficient vaccine logistics management by systemizing record keeping through standardizing stock and distribution registers; identifying gaps and improving clarity on vaccine cold chain network; drawing attention to infrastructure upgrades; developing standard operating procedures; and encouraging good practices;
Human Resources: to empower the state cold chain network by building the capacities of government cold chain handlers; and deploying vaccine and cold chain managers in every district for constant support to estimate vaccine requirements, supervise cold chain handlers and coordinate with cold chain technicians across the district.
