Abstract:

The purpose of this study was to explore the perception regarding cold chain service delivery about the service delivery of COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. An exploratory survey approach was used and entailed the collection of quantitative data from forty-five (45) healthcare workers selected from forty-five health centres in fifteen (15) study districts. The findings reveal that a greater number of the respondents have a good knowledge of the usefulness of cold chain practices in managing the logistics system and cold chain supply from the beginning to the end of the process. The respondents perceived efficient cold chain delivery practices to have a significant impact on COVID-19 service delivery hence if strengthened will in turn lead to the availability of high-quality vaccines. A greater number of the respondents perceived inadequate storage facilities or cold chain capacity; transportation delays; absence of other sources of power and lack of dependable transportation as the greatest challenges that affect the cold chain provision of COVID-19 vaccines. Nigeria should sustain its vaccination efforts as an effective way to eliminate the burden of COVID-19 infection by strengthening its supply chain system using evidence-based interventions aimed at revamping and upgrading the cold stores’ infrastructures; ensuring regular power supply/providing backup power supply to maintain the quality of vaccines during storage; strengthening inventory management system at the state and local government areas and training/retraining of key officers on supply chain management of COVID-19 vaccine.

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