Indian IT giant Tech Mahindra partners on blockchain system for vaccine tracing
As mass COVID-19 vaccination programs become increasingly critical to many governments’ strategies for dealing with pandemics, blockchain firms are moving quickly to propose ways in which technology could offer solutions to some of the logistical obstacles involved.
Blockchain company StaTwig — a graduate of the UNICEF Innovation Fund — was already trialing its blockchain-based solution VaccineLedger in 2019, in both India and the United States. The company has now partnered with Indian IT giant Tech Mahindra to roll out the solution worldwide.
VaccineLedger is focused on improving the transparency of vaccine supply chains at the vial level, aiming to predict and prevent issues such as stock expiry, counterfeiting, quality control and availability.
StaTwig’s solution supports the integration of smart contracts and IoT technologies in order to detect products due to expire and ensure temperature control for sensitive units. By partnering with Tech Mahindra, StaTwig will draw on the company’s expertise in resource scale and system integration in order to support the solution’s implementation worldwide.
Both companies have co-developed enterprise several security modules for the solution’s mobile and web application, designed to meet the various requirements of manufacturers and governments in different jurisdictions.
Tech Mahindra’s Rajesh Dhuddu has clarified the product’s scope and goals, stated:
“Wastage of life saving drugs such as vaccines should be addressed on priority and we need to come together in order to effectively find a solution here. Our strategic partnership with StaTwig will provide supply chain participants with a single application to enhance traceability, and chain of custody. This will not only ensure safety and validity of vaccine supply but also help in adherence to complex regulatory requirements, set up by Drug Administration Authority in any country.”
