A LAG-based framework to overcome the challenges of the sustainable vaccine supply chain: an integrated BWM–MARCOS approach

Abstract

PurposeEach individual needs to be vaccinated to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the shortest possible time. However, the vaccine distribution with an already strained supply chain in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will not be effective enough to vaccinate all the population in stipulated time. The purpose of this paper is to show that there is a need to revolutionize the vaccine supply chain (VSC) by overcoming the challenges of sustainable vaccine distribution.Design/methodology/approachAn integrated lean, agile and green (LAG) framework is proposed to overcome the challenges of the sustainable vaccine supply chain (SVSC). A hybrid best worst method (BWM)–Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking According to COmpromise Solution (MARCOS) methodology is designed to analyze the challenges and solutions.FindingsThe analysis shows that vaccine wastage is the most critical challenge for SVSC, and the coordination among stakeholders is the most significant solution followed by effective management support.Social implicationsThe result of the analysis can help the health care organizations (HCOs) to manage the VSC. The effective vaccination in stipulated time will help control the further spread of the virus, which will result in the normalcy of business and availability of livelihood for millions of people.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to explore sustainability in VSC by considering the environmental and social impact of vaccination. The LAG-based framework is also a new approach in VSC to find the solution for existing challenges.

A State-of-the-Art Review of the BWM Method and Future Research Agenda

“…■ China is the most prolific country in BWM research, followed by Iran, India, and Turkey. (Wu et al, 2022;Polat et al, 2023), COCOSO (Torkayesh et al, 2021;Ali et al, 2023), MARCOS (Yadav & Kumar, 2023;Ecer et al, 2024), VIKOR (Jain et al, 2023), QFD (Chang et al, 2023), WASPAS (Tavakoli Haji Abadi & Avakh Darestani, 2023), MOORA (Riahi et al, 2023), MULTIMOORA (Koppiahraj et al, 2023), SAW (Darvazeh et al, 2022), TODIM (Kumar et al, 2023), COPRAS (Sahraei et al, 2023), GRA (Hsu et al, 2023), MABAC (Chauhan et al, 2022), DEA (Eskandari et al, 2022), ARAS (Almutairi et al, 2023), and EDAS (Liang et al, 2023), weighting-based MCDM methods, including AHP (Koppiahraj et al, 2023), ANP (Nasiri Khiavi et al, 2023), DEMATEL (Bongo & Seva, 2023), FUCOM (Fazeli & Peng, 2023), and SWARA (Karakuş, 2023), some theories, including game theory (Fard et al, 2022), grey theory (Ulutaş et al, 2022), prospect theory (Zheng et al, 2023), and zero-sum game theory (Li et al, 2021), and mathematical programming, including goal programming (Do et al, 2023), and possibilistic programming (Shaw et al, 2023).…”

Risk assessment for pharmaceutical industry in uncertain environment: An integrated multi-criteria decision-making approach

“…In logistics risk, the absence of cold chain availability is the most critical sub-risk. Some medical products require a specific environment, e.g., temperature, humidity, etc., for their storage to retain therapeutic properties and other qualities (Faghih-Roohi et al, 2020;Lau et al, 2021;Yadav & Kumar, 2022), and hence, specialized containers are required for transporting such products. Therefore, the absence of cold chain can result in poor quality of medicines leading to adverse effects on patients.…”