Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines take to the sky with UPS, FedEx for Monday delivery

FedEx and UPS began transporting COVID-19 vaccines in the United States this weekend, following emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. The shipments will begin arriving Dec. 14 and continue through Dec. 16 to complete the initial delivery, U.S. Army General Gustave Perna, the chief operating officer for Operation Warp Speed, said today in a press briefing. UPS has started transporting vaccines manufactured at a Pfizer facility in Michigan to its main Louisville (SDF) hub. From SDF, Pfizer has UPS transport vaccines via Next day Air to hospitals, clinics and other destinations across the country, according to priorities set by Operation Warp Speed and the Center for Disease Control (CDC), UPS said in a press release. “We have spent months strategizing with Operation Warp Speed officials” said Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Healthcare. “The time has arrived to put the plan into action.” The Pfizer vaccine is the tip of the iceberg for COVID-19 shipments. UPS is “providing logistics support for eight of the ten leading vaccines in clinical trials today,” a spokesperson for UPS confirmed to Cargo Facts in a statement . “Our experience with these trials is helping us prepare for the vaccines when they come to market.” Based on COVID-19 vaccine production sites and demand for up to 12.6 billion doses, delivering the vaccine could add approximately 50,000 tonnes of additional intercontinental traffic over the next two years , according to estimates from Cargo Facts Consulting. Both FedEx and UPS have been preparing to hit the ground running as a federal mandate required distribution to commence within 24 hours of EUA. FedEx is transporting the vaccine under its Priority Overnight service with Priority Alert monitoring, which includes 24/7 monitoring of the shipment and priority boarding and placement on aircraft, alongside priority clearance handling of shipments, according to a press release. FedEx will use its SenseAware ID Bluetooth monitoring to track the shipments’ location and condition. Additional security near the Michigan Pfizer plant, and at other transportation points is being provided by the United States Marshals Service, according to a statement on LinkedIn from the U.S. Marshals Service. “Deputy Marshals are working hand-in-hand with Operation Warp Speed personnel to provide security for COVID-19 vaccines,” the statement said. “We have teams of highly trained Marshals Service deputies who are executing this mission.” UPS is also transporting to Canada Pfizer vaccines manufactured at the Puurs facility. The first batch left Belgium on Dec. 11 and departed Europe for SDF via UPS’ regional hub at Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN), according to local media reports. United Airlines was the first commercial airline to transport the Pfizer vaccines in the U.S., and according to a United spokesperson, transported vaccines onboard five cargo-only flights in early December from Brussels (BRU) to Chicago (ORD). DHL Express has also been involved with shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine from Belgium — for example, with the initial shipment to Israel operated on Dec. 9 — but could not be reached to confirm whether they will transport vaccines originating from the Michigan facility.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines take to the sky with UPS, FedEx for Monday delivery

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines take to the sky with UPS, FedEx for Monday delivery

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