Hyderabad-based Rockwell Industries has joined hands with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories to provide its WHO PQS (World Health Organisation - Performance, Quality and Safety) certified Covid-19 vaccine freezers to enable storage of Sputnik V vaccine across India.
According to an official statement issued by Rockwell, the Covid-19 vaccines are temperature sensitive, hence require precise temperature to maintain its potency. The vaccine freezer plays a very critical role in the safety of vaccines and its potency. Sputnik V vaccine made available in India through Dr. Reddy's requires a temperature range of minus -18 degrees Celsius, to keep the vaccine stable and potent.
"Rockwell took lead in developing the vaccine freezers as per the WHO PQS Standard and after 3 years of efforts, R & D Team of Rockwell achieved the goal of stringent design protocol and finally the product was tested at WHO authorized test laboratory at Denmark and got two different sizes of vaccine freezers certified. The freezer can handle various harsh usage conditions in rural locations too and maintain desired temperature range, thus breaking the vaccine cold chain hurdle," they said.
Ashok Gupta, Managing Director, Rockwell Industries Ltd said, "This is a huge endorsement for our Covid-19 vaccine freezer. Our technology ensures that Sputnik V's storage management at vaccine centres meets the stringent refrigeration standards set forth by Sputnik V manufacturers."
Prateek Gupta, Director Rockwell Industries Ltd said, "Rockwell is working closely with Dr. Reddy's to develop and provide wireless IOT based controllers and data loggers which can give access to real time data of temperature and performance for the Vaccine Freezers assuring the vaccine storage conditions in each location across the country."
"Many hospitals such as AIG Hospitals, Apollo, Omega and Care Hospitals are already using Rockwell's Vaccine Freezers for vaccine storage and many more hospitals and Institutions are approaching us for the same. We have a capacity to manufacture about 1,000 machines per day. We are in the process of exporting our Vaccine Freezers to various developed countries including an initial pilot deal with Japan," Prateek added.
According to recent data from the WHO, due to the lack of temperature control or continuous cold chain during vaccine transportation, 5-20 per cent of vaccines lose their potency, said Rockwell.
( With inputs from ANI )
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