Supply chain traceability and counterfeit detection of COVID-19 vaccines using novel blockchain-based Vacledger system

• Published in: Expert systems with applications 2023-10, Vol.228, p.120293, Article 120293
• Main Authors: Munasinghe, Uvini J., Halgamuge, Malka N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blockchain; Counterfeit vaccines; COVID-19 vaccines; Hyperledger fabric; Private-permissioned blockchain; Smart contracts; Supply chain; Vaccine traceability; Vacledger
• ISSN: 0957-4174; 1873-6793; 0957-4174
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2023.120293

We propose a novel framework, Vacledger, for supply chain traceability and counterfeit detection of COVID-19 vaccines using a blockchain network. It includes four smart contracts on a private-permissioned blockchain network for supply chain traceability and counterfeit detection of COVID-19 vaccine, more specifically to (i) handle the rules and regulations of vaccine importing countries and provide authorization for cross the borders (regulatory compliance and border authorization smart contract), (ii) register new and imported vaccines in the Vacledger system (vaccine registration smart contract), (iii) find the number of stocks that have arrived in the Vacledger system (stock accumulation smart contract), and (iv) identify the exact location of the stock (location tracing update smart contract). Our results show that the proposed system keeps track of all activities, events, transactions, and all other past transactions, permanently stored in an immutable Vacledger connected to decentralized peer-to-peer file systems. We observe no algorithm complexity differences between the proposed Vacledger system and existing supply chain frameworks based on different blockchain types. In addition, based on four use cases, we estimate our model’s overall gasoline cost (transaction or gas price). The Vacledger system empowers distribution companies to manage their supply chain operations effectively and securely using an in-network, permissioned distributed network. This study employs the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain (the healthcare industry) to demonstrate how the proposed Vacledger system operates. Despite this, our proposed approach might be implemented in other supply chain industries, such as the food industry, energy trading, and commodity transactions. •Vacledger system for supply chain traceability and fake COVID-19 vaccines detection.•Developing smart contracts to manage border authorization, regulatory compliance.•Estimating the overall gasoline cost based on four realistic situations.•Evaluating Vacledger system based on algorithm complexity, cost estimation and safety.•Implementing the proposed blockchain-based Vacledger system for healthcare industry.