Moderna and IBM to Use Tech for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Moderna and IBM will work together to explore technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and hybrid cloud, to support smarter COVID-19 vaccine management.

In an effort to do this, there will be a pilot of open, standardized, technology-enabled vaccine approaches to improve supply chain visibility and foster near real-time tracking of vaccine administration. The companies want to identify ways technology can be used to help accelerate secure, information sharing between governments, healthcare providers, life science organizations, and individuals.

Many of IBM’s solutions will be leveraged, including vaccine management solutions that provide an end-to-end traceability to address potential supply chain disruptions. IBM’s technology could help governments and providers to quickly and securely share data on individual vaccine batches traveling from manufacturers to administration sites.

Further, organizations could use Digital Health Pass, which is built on blockchain technology, to verify health credentials for employees, customers, and travelers based on specified criteria like test results, vaccination records, and temperature checks.

“If ever there was a time to rally around open technology and collaboration, it’s now,” Jason Kelley, managing partner, global strategic alliances leader for IBM, said in a statement. “As governments, pharmacy chains, healthcare providers, and life sciences companies continue to scale and connect their tools,, and as new players enter the supply chain, open technology can help drive more transparency and bolster trust, while helping to ensure accessibility and equity in the process.”