Sheffield University engineering students created ‘The Vaccine Storage’, a dynamic solution designed to propel the accessibility and efficiency of delivering life-saving vaccines.
Commencing in 2021 during the pandemic with the initial purpose of storing COVID vaccines, the project has now transitioned to focus on general vaccine storage.
Qistina Rafizi, project leader of Vaccine Storage said: “We are going to have an alarm system, if it is open for more than two minutes for example, it will give off some sound.
“Because the vaccine that is started in the vessel should be kept at a maintained temperature.
“Also we are thinking of designing a vessel that allows for a selectable temperature range, catering to a variety of temperature requirements.”
The Vaccine Storage is targeted towards all user, irrespective of cost or purpose, whether for business or doctors.
The versatility of the storage ensures convenience for doctors reaching patients with vaccines and facilitates efficient product transport for companies supplying hospitals.
Nor Nordin, the design team leader said: “it’s kind of like a portable fridge, but at a very low temperature.
“If we were targeting a more broad customer, probably we can market our storage to more patients.
“So far we’re designed for transporting the vaccine from one hospital to another.”
The objective of the box is to create a low cost storage solution using composite materials, integrating sturdy components and an insulating matrix to improve efficiency.
Muhammad Rasydan Bin Abd Rashid, the technical team leader said: “there’s a monitoring system and also a voltage regulating system to control the temperature automatically.
“We have a bunch of sensors to monitor the condition because vaccines are sensitive and the complicated liquid needs proper care.”
Diabetes is a hormonal disorder that necessitates insulin injections before meals to regulate blood glucose levels in patients.
Anna Wilson, 21, who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes since 16 years old, said: “It’s very important that insulin remains cool, because otherwise it can become less effective or just not work altogether. So once you’ve started using an insulin pen, it can stay out of a cool environment.
“I’ve had it before where if I’m travelling from home to uni or going on holiday. I went on holiday with my sister and I had to pack lots of ice packs ‘an insulated lunchbox’ to keep the insulin cool whilst I was travelling.”
She said the Vaccine Storage would be useful for medical conditions: “I think it sounds very exciting, I think it’s always important when research is done, but also looking at helping the people already living with it and just coping with that.
“I’d definitely be interested. It’s main use for me personally would be when I’m travelling between home and uni to keep the insulin cool because in day to day life.”