Vaccine Supply Chain Distribution under Covid-19 Pandemic:Stressed, Resourceful and Resilient- Lesson Learned from the United States Experiences

Abstract

Supply chain failed during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Irrational consumer behaviour created a panic buying and led to bullwhip effects. The United States government response to the pandemic from manufacturing vaccines to distribution to consumers in a very short period of time created further uncertainty as the local authorities where vaccines were to be administrated were unprepared for implementing the vaccine supply chain. The federal pandemic supply chain, Operations Wrap Speed (OWS) actually contributed to confusion, uncertainty and the panic environment at the local level. Panic for the fear of virus and confusion ensued until the end of March 2021. Lack of communication and information sharing among stakeholders are to blame for such an inefficient and ineffective pandemic supply chain execution. Once information filtered through the local level, the pandemic supply chain functioned well as it should have performed. This study suggests that a pandemic supply chain infrastructure should be in place at the local level for future emergency deployment.