Imbach Logistics Breaks Ground for a New Logistics Center
Aug 14, 2020 at 7:05 AMCourier Service swissconnect Bypasses Traffic Jams with Intelligent Logistics Software
Aug 19, 2020 at 7:00 AMRecently, some media outlets, particularly those of the Swiss Tamedia Group, reported that there is a lack of transport capacities for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. This led to the conclusion that there could be shortages in supplying the population with vaccine doses. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Stölzle, Managing Director of the Institute for Supply Chain Management (University of St. Gallen), and Ingrid Brányik, Chairwoman of the Management Board of Logistics Advisory Experts GmbH (Arbon), have investigated this issue. It quickly becomes apparent that fundamental questions related to Covid-19 vaccines must be answered before suitable logistics concepts can be developed.
A plea from Wolfgang Stölzle and Ingrid Brányik
(St. Gallen/Arbon) Immediately after the imposition of the lockdown by political decision-makers in connection with the so-called Corona crisis, the logistics industry was in the spotlight: on one hand, due to interrupted supply chains, and on the other, due to heroic performances, such as in the supply of food and medicines to the population, not to mention the parcel services that had to operate in a mode resembling a cumulative Christmas and Easter business due to the exploding ordering behavior in online retail. Logistics service providers serving customers in the automotive or machinery sectors, however, faced order declines to zero levels.
There were also beneficiaries of the crisis caused by the measures: some logistics companies enjoyed lucrative business in the transport and storage of protective equipment of all kinds. It felt as if every cargo plane loaded with masks that landed at a German airport was personally welcomed by a government official, accompanied by much government-friendly press coverage.
Pharmaceutical logistics providers await the distribution of vaccine doses
Now, in their own way, a second wave seems to be approaching, as pharmaceutical logistics providers are waiting for the urgent distribution of millions or even billions of Covid-19 vaccine doses. The Tamedia Group’s media outlets prominently highlighted that logistics service providers lack the necessary capacities for a worldwide distribution, citing top managers from well-known providers.
According to reports from Tamedia media, two vaccine doses are to be made available for half of the world’s population. This would mean that approximately 8 billion vaccine doses would need to be distributed worldwide in a very short time. Such a scenario can easily lead to the construction of supply shortages without much creativity or depth.
But is the assessment of logistics capacities for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccine doses currently the factually appropriate question? To illustrate, consider the detailed preparation and implementation of a logistics concept for supplying an automobile plant, without knowing where the plant is located, which models are to be produced in what quantities and when, which suppliers are to be contracted from which locations, and when the plant could start operations with what ramp-up curve. An automotive logistics provider expects a specification sheet from its customers that contains precise information on these key points. However, all of this is lacking for the development of a logistics concept for vaccine distribution—and for good reason.
Fundamental questions more important than clarifying logistics capacities
Instead of dealing with logistical details now, urgent fundamental questions should first be addressed and brought into a medical and open societal discussion.
Assuming that it typically takes at least 8 years, often more, for the development process and validation of a vaccine to reach official approval, any shortening of this process appears highly irresponsible.
The currently considered gene-based vaccines carry the risk of autoimmune reactions and the activation of oncogenes and have not been sufficiently researched to date. Simplifications or even shortenings of development processes constitute a violation of the so-called precautionary principle (see: Dr. Clemens Arvay, Swiss Medical Journal, issue 2020/2728 from 01.07.2020).
Experts agree on the dangers of a shortened approval process for genetic vaccines (see: Interview with Prof. Dr. Stefan Hockertz and Markus Langemann on the risks and side effects of an RNA vaccine on the channel “Friedhelf,” YouTube). The individuals on whom the vaccine is currently being tested are, at this point in time, merely subjects. In short: human trials are taking place in a very early stage of development. There is apparently a risk of violating the precautionary principle with its maxim “The vaccination of a healthy person must not endanger their health.”
No vaccine approval based on viral DNA yet
To date, there is no vaccine approved worldwide based on viral DNA. A demanding toxicological expertise has not yet been available due to time constraints. Therefore, in the event of premature approval of the vaccine, there is a suspicion of intentional bodily harm—affecting millions of people (see: Prof. Dr. Stefan Hockertz, YouTube, Radio Munich, 24.07.2020).
Thus, the question arises: Who will take responsibility for potential follow-up damages from a vaccination where the vaccine is brought to market with a shortened and insufficiently validated development process? Is it possible that the harm from a Covid-19 vaccination could outweigh any conceivable potential benefit? (See: Dr. Karina Reiss and Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi: Corona False Alarm?: Numbers, Data, and Backgrounds).
If we take another step back in the logical chain of thought, many more question marks and inconsistencies arise. The calls for a Covid-19 vaccine are based on numbers, data, and facts that are not scientifically well-prepared. Parameters for capturing the infection situation are arbitrarily changed, and cross-references are not established. All findings are based on unvalidated PCR tests, which, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) information sheet for current Covid-19 testing in Switzerland dated 20.05.2020, do not provide a conclusion about the presence of an infectious agent. However, one searches in the media landscape and political discussion in vain for a controversial discussion about this.
Finally, it should be noted that there has been no excess mortality in Switzerland to date. When comparing the infection figures to the population of Switzerland, there is no cause for concern (see: Worldometers.info, trusted and used by Johns Hopkins University, as of 15.08.2020): Alleged coronavirus cases 37,671, of which healthy 32,900, of which 26 critical cases, of which deceased 1,991. Total population of Switzerland 8.57 million (2019), 8.85 million (estimated end of 2020).
Alleged capacity shortages in logistics are panic-mongering
Returning to the metaphor mentioned at the beginning: it seems that not even the basic outlines of the automobile plant have been sufficiently thought through, let alone coordinated with the important stakeholders. No logistics provider would want to get involved here. Metaphorically speaking, it makes no sense today to confront logistics service providers with concepts for the distribution of Covid-19 vaccine doses. On the contrary: now—just as practiced by the Tamedia Group—proclaiming alleged capacity shortages in logistics only serves to amplify fear among the population. This apparently aligns with the politically desired line of keeping the fear level in the population high. In doing so, pharmaceutical logistics providers are being done a disservice by being preemptively denied the competence for appropriate capacity planning without necessity. It would be more helpful to work on the following key points for a logistics concept—without any media motivation:
- Which medicines can be made available by when to treat Covid-19 patients and thus relieve unnecessary pressure from vaccine development?
- When can we expect a sufficiently tested and seriously approved Covid-19 vaccine that does not exceed the risk level of a conventional flu vaccine?
- What results do estimates provide regarding the medically sensible number of vaccinated individuals in light of the development of actual infection and illness numbers, up to the question of whether, given the low spread of a virus that is not exceptionally dangerous, vaccination of larger population groups is even warranted?
- How many people should be advised to get vaccinated from a medical perspective?
- How many people would be willing to get vaccinated under what conditions and when?
- Who delivers the vaccines from which production sites in which countries with what capacities in what timeframes?
It quickly becomes clear from this: a logistics concept for vaccination against Covid-19 is anything but time-critical and can be carefully developed with much expertise, provided that the necessary foundations become apparent. Many details, such as temperature-controlled transport to warm target regions or the protection of the vaccine from improper handling or theft, can then be expertly planned. There is certainly no shortage of logistics experts, nor of logistical capacities, but rather a lack of prudence and a broadly supported acceptance of possible vaccination measures against Covid-19.
Photos: © Adobe Stock (No. 1 – 3) / Logistics Advisory Experts (portrait images)
The Authors
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Stölzle is a professor at the Chair of Logistics Management and program director of the continuing education diploma program in Logistics Management at the University of St. Gallen.
Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board at the Federal Minister for Transport, Construction and Urban Development of the Federal Republic of Germany. Additional memberships in the scientific advisory boards of the Federal Association of Logistics (BVL) and the Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics (BVL). Leading and participating in a variety of training programs for executives in the fields of logistics, supply chain management, and transportation.
Ingrid Brányik has been a partner and CEO of Logistics Advisory Experts GmbH since September 2014. She is the personal “host” of the company and ensures smooth operations both internally and externally. She manages the company’s current public image as well as the satisfaction of external and internal stakeholders.
Ingrid Brányik studied cello at the University of the Arts in Berlin. She also has training as an air traffic management specialist and has been working at the Institute for Supply Chain Management at the University of St. Gallen in the area of continuing education/events since 2009. Ingrid Brányik shapes the collaboration of LAE colleagues in her own, sensitive way and brings her experience from event management into new formats of LAE.
