Purpose Despite vaccine development, the emergence of new epidemics and enzootics remains a global risk. Therefore, studying mass vaccination processes and the associated logistical and reverse logistical challenges is important for better guiding future mass vaccination processes. This paper aims to analyze these challenges and suggests guidelines for mass vaccination from the perspective of the Latin American response. Design/methodology/approach The study is exploratory and belongs to the heuristic philosophical paradigm. The method was qualitative and based on grounded theory. The selected instrument was an expert consultation, and the research technique was a self-administered online survey using the non-probability sampling method. The questionnaire was conducted in Spanish and applied to experts in industrial engineering, logistics or related areas from Latin America (N = 74; 52M, 22F). Findings In purchases and procurement of vaccines, it is key to guarantee the delivery frequency. Similarly, temperature and specific conditions are issues in its storage. As for inventory management, it is fundamental to review the due dates of the vaccines, the input and output of vaccines; the temperature control and storage-specific conditions. Regarding distribution and transportation, it is key to determine the availability of equipped vehicles with minimum biosecurity protocols; route programming and last-mile logistics. Reverse logistics is important to avoid driving materials without biological risk to landfills. Research limitations/implications The study delves into the underrepresented Latin American perspective in vaccine supply chain research and contributes insights into closing the health divide with high-income countries. Practical implications The COVID-19 experience shows that mass vaccination processes are complex. So it is necessary to strengthen the capacity to generate vaccines against new pathogens but also to develop the capacity for their mass production, storage, distribution and logistics. Social implications Governments must design plans according to the logistical and reverse logistical challenges, support in academic so as to face future disruptions in the vaccine supply chain and to protect society. The latter, is particularly benefit from decisions taking on time to health care as well as the environment is protected. Finally, the policy implications of the findings suggest to design models for decision making process in the massive vaccination in Latin America, at all levels like government, vaccine suppliers, health centers taking into account the challenges exposed for this region. Originality/value It is necessary to strengthen the capacity to generate new vaccines and develop the capacity for their mass production, storage, distribution and logistics. The study delves into the underrepresented Latin American perspective in vaccine supply chain research and contributes insights into closing the health divide with high-income countries.
Montoya et al. (Thu,) studied this question.