The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that around 8,000 Boeing 747 jumbo jets are need to transport coronavirus vaccines globally.
According to the IATA, shipping coronavirus vaccines worldwide will be the "largest transport challenge ever" and will require the equivalent of 8,000 Boeing 747s.
Although there are no coronavirus vaccines available yet, the IATA is already working on a global airlift plan in partnership with airlines, airports, global health regulators and pharmaceutical companies.
The distribution plan is based on the assumption that only one dose of vaccine is needed per person.
Coronavirus vaccine global distribution
IATA chief executive officer (CEO) Alexandre de Juniac said: "Safely delivering Covid-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the global air cargo industry. But it won't happen without careful advance planning. And the time for that is now."
Although airlines have shifted most of their operations on cargo delivery due to the decline in passenger flights, vaccine shipping is perceived to be far more complex.
One factor to consider is that not all aircraft are suitable for vaccine delivery as it typically requires a temperature range of between 2 and 8C for transporting drugs and some vaccines may require frozen temperatures, further excluding more planes.
Glyn Hughes, head of cargo at IATA, mentioned: "We know the procedures well. What we need to do is scale them up to the magnitude that will be required."
Hughes added that flights to certain parts of the world, particularly some South East Asian areas, will be critical since these places lack the capability to produce their own vaccine.
IATA also pointed out that the lack of cargo capacity, size of the region and the complexities of border crossings make vaccine distribution across Africa "impossible" right now.
The group says shipping will require "almost military precision" and will need cool facilities across a network of locations where the vaccine will be stored.
IATA added: "Vaccines will be highly valuable commodities. Arrangements must be in place to keep ensure that shipments remain secure from tampering and theft.
Preparing for vaccine distribution
US surgeon general Jerome Adams has called on states to prepare for Covid-19 vaccine distribution as early as November 1.
"We’ve always said that we are hopeful for a vaccine by the end of this year or the beginning of next year," the US surgeon general said. "That said, it’s not just about having a vaccine that is safe and effective — it’s about being ready to distribute it," he stressed.
According to a letter obtained by McClatchy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director, Robert Redfield, also requested state governments and health departments to remove certain permit requirements to accelerate the setup of distribution sites as early as November.
"The normal time required to obtain these permits presents a significant barrier to the success of this urgent public health program," Redfield stated in the August 27 letter.
Three of six coronavirus vaccine candidates being developed in the US have already entered their third and final phase of human testing. US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in an interview with the Financial Times recently that the FDA would give an emergency use authorization even before phase 3 trials have been completed.
