A LandCruiser 78 has become the first refrigerated vehicle for vaccine delivery in the globe that has obtained the performance, quality, and safety (PQS) prequalification standard from the World Health Organisation.
The refrigerated LandCruiser 78 was created in partnership by Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota), its overseas trading arm Toyota Tsusho Corporation (Toyota Tsusho), and B Medical Systems who supplied the CF850 vaccination refrigerator.
The conversion of the Land Cruiser 78 from a people carrier to a refrigerated vehicle was conducted by Toyota Tsusho’s Africa-based subsidiary CFAO SAS and Toyota subsidiary Toyota Customising & Development Company Ltd.
The refrigerator has a storage capacity of 400 vaccine packages. It can be operated for approximately 16 hours without a power supply and can be charged by the vehicle while driving and from an external power source when parked.
PQS is a system for the qualification of medical devices and equipment by WHO that was established to promote the development of medical devices and equipment applicable for the United Nations’ procurement as well as to set quality standards.
This refrigerated vehicle for vaccines can now be used under the international COVAX framework, which seeks to fairly distribute vaccines for COVID-19 to developing countries such as the Africas.
Toyota Tsusho, Toyota, and B-Medical Systems, say they joined forces with the same goal in mind. The three partners say they will continue to make efforts so that the obtainment of PQS for the refrigerated vehicle for vaccines will contribute to the safety and security of the African region.
