Cold Chain Integrity for Pandemic Vaccination: Integrating IoT, Blockchain, and Predictive Thermodynamics to Secure Pharmaceutical Distribution

Abstract

The global rollout of temperature-sensitive vaccines during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted enduring fragilities in pharmaceutical cold chains: variable temperature excursions, inadequate real-time visibility, fragmented stakeholder trust, and logistical complexity across multimodal transport. This article synthesizes multidisciplinary literatures—vaccine supply chain studies, cold-chain thermodynamics, Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) sensing, blockchain-enabled trust architectures, and optimization for rerouting logistics—to propose an integrated conceptual and operational framework for resilient, transparent, and secure vaccine distribution. Drawing on vaccine profiling and distribution experiences (Heinz & Stiasny, 2021; Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, 2021), empirical and methodological work on cold-chain security and monitoring (Ji & Guo, 2009; Konovalenko et al., 2021; Li & Chen, 2011), and technological proposals for blockchain and IoT in healthcare logistics (Engelhardt, 2017; Dai et al., 2020; Clark & Burstall, 2018), this paper articulates the theoretical underpinnings and practical architecture of a hybrid system. The system integrates: (1) physics-based predictive temperature models grounded in Newtonian cooling to anticipate and mitigate thermal excursions (Konovalenko et al., 2021); (2) distributed ledger mechanisms to record provenance and immutably log chain-of-custody and sensor data, reducing information asymmetries and enabling auditable recalls (Clark & Burstall, 2018; Chronicled, 2019); (3) IoMT sensor networks and RFID for fine-grained, geospatial-temporal temperature monitoring (Li & Chen, 2011; Fan et al., 2018); and (4) dynamic route optimization and real-time rerouting algorithms to respond to disruptions (Mejjaouli & Babiceanu, 2018). The methodology section describes a robust, text-based experimental design for field piloting: parameter selection for sensors, simulation of transport modes, blockchain consensus considerations, privacy-preserving data-sharing protocols, and decision rules for rerouting. Results are presented as descriptive analyses of how component integration reduces risk exposure, enhances traceability, and supports regulatory compliance. The discussion interprets findings in light of supply chain governance, cost-benefit trade-offs, scalability constraints, and ethical considerations, especially concerning vulnerable older populations and equitable vaccine access (Landi et al., 2020). The conclusion consolidates operational recommendations and charts a research agenda on algorithmic fairness, low-resource implementations, and energy-efficient blockchain mechanisms for sustainable deployment. This synthesis aims to guide academics, logistics practitioners, policymakers, and technologists toward field-ready architectures that reconcile the thermodynamic realities of cold-chain transport with the socio-technical demands of large-scale vaccination campaigns.