{"id":58265,"date":"2021-01-19T20:29:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T12:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/satellite-iot-techs-role-in-vaccine-distribution\/"},"modified":"2021-01-19T20:29:18","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T12:29:18","slug":"satellite-iot-techs-role-in-vaccine-distribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/satellite-iot-techs-role-in-vaccine-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Satellite IoT Tech\u2019s Role in Vaccine Distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The world is facing a bleak winter in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health experts have warned that the coming weeks will be challenging, as COVID cases are at the highest point in many parts of the United States, which recently hit more than 4,000 COVID-19 deaths on a single day. Even Europe and parts of Asia, which had seemed to control the virus over the summer and through the fall, are facing a winter surge. <\/p>\n<p>But at the same time, there is a light at the end of the tunnel as the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine are rolling out across the globe \u2014 and each person that takes the vaccine brings hope for a return to normal life. <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/evPaM5VjRpWa6UH8eXDc_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/evPaM5VjRpWa6UH8eXDc_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/evPaM5VjRpWa6UH8eXDc_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/evPaM5VjRpWa6UH8eXDc_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/evPaM5VjRpWa6UH8eXDc_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the February 2021 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>Yet vaccine rollout in the United States has already been criticized as too slow. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar predicted earlier that that 20 million people would be vaccinated by the end of 2020 \u2014 yet at press time, about 16 million people have received it in the United States according to a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracker. <\/p>\n<p>The vaccines themselves pose another challenge to coordinated rollout \u2014 their temperature needs. Pfizer\u2019s vaccine needs to be kept extremely cold \u2014 minus 70 degrees Celsius. And Moderna\u2019s vaccine needs to be minus 20 degrees Celsius, about the temperature of a regular freezer. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where satellite technology comes in. Satellite Internet of Things (IoT) company Orbcomm has offers a cold chain telematics solution, which its customers \u2014 shipping companies \u2014 are using to deploy the vaccine. The end-to-end product allows shipping companies to monitor the temperature of shipments at the level of a trailer, container, or even a pallet. <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a680e77a8738;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a680e77a8738 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a680e77a8739').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a680e77a8739'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Orbcomm supplies a piece of hardware that connects to a refrigerated device, which passes information by satellite or cellular connection to Orbcomm\u2019s application. The application is integrated into customers\u2019 systems, and so managers, dispatchers, and drivers can monitor temperature in real-time and adjust the temperature if needed.  <\/p>\n<p>Other IoT products can track and report temperature, but satellite connectivity as part of an end-to-end solution is what sets Orbcomm apart, Chris MacDonald, Orbcomm senior vice president and general manager for the Americas tells Via Satellite. Orbcomm has a satellite constellation of its own OG2 and OG1 satellites, uses third party satellite networks, and works with multiple cellular providers for access to terrestrial networks. This allows shipping companies to keep eyes on the vaccine, or whatever they are shipping, with continuous communication, even in the most remote areas beyond the scope of cellular networks.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt provides visibility redundancy,\u201d MacDonald says. \u201cIf there\u2019s a weak cell signal or a busy cell signal \u2014 which we see more and more in busy metropolitan areas, cell networks go down due to many people utilizing it \u2014 our devices will route over to our satellite constellation, and offer a service independent of either of either signal.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Orbcomm has offered this product before the pandemic, and more than 2 million of its IoT devices are in use tracking assets worldwide. MacDonald says Orbcomm was already working with pharmaceutical transport companies and specialized shipping, but the company has heavily focused this product for food safety in the past. <\/p>\n<p>Orbcomm is working to hone the product to fully meet pharmaceutical compliance, which is more strident than food safety standards. Where some pharma applications may want updates every 15 minutes, and food service may require an update every 20 minutes or every hour, COVID vaccine shipments need to be monitored constantly. Now, Orbcomm can even provide data at the level of the actual product, by using either Bluetooth connectivity with a sensor, or Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) connectivity within the trailer. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe trailer becomes more of a smart trailer with multiple avenues of communication paths. RFID, Bluetooth, cellular, and satellite could all be coming out of one trailer,\u201d MacDonald says of the different modes of connectivity working together. <\/p>\n<p>He emphasizes that the goal is to have complete visibility on the status of the vaccine. \u201cIt\u2019s visibility to be able to monitor compliance, but it\u2019s also visibility to people,\u201d he says. \u201cThe driver, for example, has visibility to temperature in the cab so he or she could react to the temperature going out of range. It\u2019s essential to have multiple sets of eyes on the shipments.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>MacDonald says the COVID-19 vaccine is among the most precious cargo that Orbcomm\u2019s technology has supported for deployment, but the company is no stranger to disaster relief. Orbcomm\u2019s technology supported vaccination for the bird flu and other critical flu vaccination deployments, and assisted with disaster relief for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve worked closely in the past with the American Red Cross because when national disasters come, they tend to take cell networks down. With our satellite offering, we\u2019re able to have maximum uptime,\u201d MacDonald says. \u201cWe\u2019ve been at the forefront in Puerto Rico and in Houston to get resources, food, and water into these places. We\u2019ve been able to help regenerate life in some of those areas.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a680e77a8b51;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a680e77a8b51 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a680e77a8b52').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a680e77a8b52'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>MacDonald says that as vaccine deployment is rolled out to more groups and then the general population, it will make last-mile transportation more important. More transportation will need to specialize, to have this type of connectivity in order to roll the vaccine out to local drugstores or elementary schools, for example. <\/p>\n<p>As the trucking industry in North America has gone through an economic adjustment in recent years, the industry is now investing in equipment, its workforce, and avenues of growth, MacDonald says. He sees connected transportation solutions like Orbcomm\u2019s cold chain telematics product as part of the rebound in North American transportation.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany of our shipping companies already have the solution in place. UPS and the FedEx Custom Critical division have really been at the forefront, and pharma and bio transport [companies] are set up for this. To them, it\u2019s just another load,\u201d MacDonald says. \u201cSome of the other carriers, the IoT technology has opened their eyes to a new avenue for their business to explore. As we roll out the national and international disbursement of vaccination, I think you\u2019re going to see a lot more players emerge to be able to support and transport the vaccine, provided they have full IoT connectivity.\u201d <strong class=\"Annotation -strong\">VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405856:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/podEkfbiScOtWdfu6ndS_ED_Note-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/podEkfbiScOtWdfu6ndS_ED_Note-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/podEkfbiScOtWdfu6ndS_ED_Note-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/podEkfbiScOtWdfu6ndS_ED_Note-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/podEkfbiScOtWdfu6ndS_ED_Note.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tHidden Gems and 2021 Predictions<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405848:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kfbgwVvSiyJkWWf3s1Gf_iss050e066094_large-300x199.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kfbgwVvSiyJkWWf3s1Gf_iss050e066094_large-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kfbgwVvSiyJkWWf3s1Gf_iss050e066094_large-800x532.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kfbgwVvSiyJkWWf3s1Gf_iss050e066094_large-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/kfbgwVvSiyJkWWf3s1Gf_iss050e066094_large.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tNSR\u2019s 14 Predictions for Space in 2021<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405839:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qIpFPCAYSaiIJJWOxjkH_VS_020121_DGTL_Pay_TV-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qIpFPCAYSaiIJJWOxjkH_VS_020121_DGTL_Pay_TV-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qIpFPCAYSaiIJJWOxjkH_VS_020121_DGTL_Pay_TV-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qIpFPCAYSaiIJJWOxjkH_VS_020121_DGTL_Pay_TV-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/qIpFPCAYSaiIJJWOxjkH_VS_020121_DGTL_Pay_TV.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tPay-TV Operator Execs Discuss Satellite Television in the 2020s<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405853:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"154\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ANhM5UmISMKfhXC8fAfW_Screen_Shot_2021-01-25_at_11.10.38_AM-300x154.png\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ANhM5UmISMKfhXC8fAfW_Screen_Shot_2021-01-25_at_11.10.38_AM-300x154.png 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ANhM5UmISMKfhXC8fAfW_Screen_Shot_2021-01-25_at_11.10.38_AM-800x412.png 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ANhM5UmISMKfhXC8fAfW_Screen_Shot_2021-01-25_at_11.10.38_AM-640x330.png 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ANhM5UmISMKfhXC8fAfW_Screen_Shot_2021-01-25_at_11.10.38_AM.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSatellite\u2019s Growth Outlook Improves in 2021<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405836:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IzlnHbKvTim1RtMKfcn1_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover_Inside_-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IzlnHbKvTim1RtMKfcn1_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover_Inside_-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IzlnHbKvTim1RtMKfcn1_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover_Inside_-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IzlnHbKvTim1RtMKfcn1_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover_Inside_-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IzlnHbKvTim1RtMKfcn1_VS_020121_DGTL_Cover_Inside_.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSunil Bharti Mittal Talks Renewed Faith in \u2018Hidden Gem\u2019 OneWeb<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 405845:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SemAkA0TQ0qEl0IoYHzu_VS_020121_DGTL_FCC_5G-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SemAkA0TQ0qEl0IoYHzu_VS_020121_DGTL_FCC_5G-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SemAkA0TQ0qEl0IoYHzu_VS_020121_DGTL_FCC_5G-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SemAkA0TQ0qEl0IoYHzu_VS_020121_DGTL_FCC_5G-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SemAkA0TQ0qEl0IoYHzu_VS_020121_DGTL_FCC_5G.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe FCC\u2019s Path to a U.S. Nationwide 5G Rollout Gets Lost in the Thick of Rural America<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The world is facing a bleak winter in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health experts have warned that the coming weeks will be challenging, as COVID cases are at the highest point in many parts of the United States, which recently hit more than 4,000 COVID-19 deaths on a single day. Even Europe and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58266,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58265","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58265"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}