Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Optimise Vaccine Delivery and Cold Chain Logistics in Remote Areas: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Vaccine delivery in remote and resource-constrained settings continues to face challenges related to fragile cold chain infrastructure, limited real-time monitoring, fragmented data systems, and transportation barriers. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising approach to strengthen vaccine logistics through predictive analytics, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled monitoring, route optimization, and autonomous delivery technologies. However, evidence on the application of AI across vaccine supply chains remains dispersed, limiting understanding of its effectiveness and implementation requirements. This scoping review mapped the global evidence on AI applications in vaccine delivery and cold chain logistics, with a particular focus on remote and low-resource settings, and identified key barriers and enablers influencing sustainable implementation. Following the PRISMA-ScR framework, a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, WHO IRIS, UNICEF, and Gavi repositories was conducted for studies published between 2015 and 2026. Eligible peer-reviewed and grey literature described AI-enabled approaches to vaccine storage, distribution, routing, or delivery. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers and synthesized narratively according to AI methodology, logistical function, implementation context, and reported outcomes. Fifty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Four major application domains emerged: AI-integrated IoT systems for cold chain monitoring (55%), AI-assisted drone delivery for last-mile distribution (20%), predictive analytics for demand forecasting and route optimization (16%), and AI-enhanced frugal refrigeration technologies (9%). Reported benefits included improved temperature compliance, reduced vaccine wastage, enhanced delivery efficiency, and expanded access to underserved populations. However, most studies were pilot or observational in nature, with limited prospective validation, cost-effectiveness evaluation, and large-scale implementation in low- and middle-income countries. AI has significant potential to improve vaccine delivery and cold chain performance, but sustainable adoption requires stronger digital infrastructure, governance frameworks, workforce capacity, and context-specific implementation strategies to ensure equitable and scalable impact.