Challenges of vaccine storage, transportation, and distribution in southeast Nigeria: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Safeguarding vaccine potency requires flawless cold chain execution, a task that remains incredibly difficult in resource-constrained environments. This narrative review evaluates the systemic bottlenecks plaguing vaccine storage, transportation, and distribution networks across Southeast Nigeria. We searched PubMed, African Journals OnLine (AJOL), and Google Scholar for studies, regional audits, and institutional reports published up to December 2025. Extracted data were synthesized to cross-examine physical infrastructure against the regional human resource capacity. The data reveals a stark gap between logistics infrastructure and operational realities. Over 30% of local primary healthcare centers lack working refrigerators, leaving them heavily reliant on ice boxes and makeshift transit routines. This physical deficit is aggravated by severe power grid instability, a critical shortage of climate-controlled vehicles, and worsening regional security threats in states like Anambra and Imo. On the human capital side, nearly 42% of active vaccinators cannot identify safe vaccine storage temperature ranges, largely because regular, structured professional training remains virtually nonexistent.
The supply chain of vaccine in Southeast Nigeria is compromised by both infrastructure gaps and a lack of staff training. Revitalizing this system requires a shift toward decentralized solar refrigeration, institutionalized training regimens, and the deployment of real-time digital monitoring platforms.