UAE plays vital role in Covid-19 vaccine distribution

The UAE has cemented its position as a global logistics hub to facilitate regional and global distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine with the launch of the Hope Consortium and the Vaccine Logistics Alliance, experts said.

“These initiatives are collaborating, and combining the expertise and resources of participating groups and companies to coordinate, facilitate, and support the different steps of the logistical requirements and safe transportation of the vaccines worldwide,” said Jack Muhs, regional president of FedEx Express Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa. “It is an honor to be part of the Hope Consortium, which represents a complete supply chain solution to address vaccine transport, demand planning, sourcing, training, and digital technology infrastructure, to make the vaccine rapidly available across the world. This is truly who we are and what we do.”

Muhs added that he believed that the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine is a marathon, not a sprint. The shipment of the vaccines is likely to take place in stages over a long period of time and collaboration between the active ingredient producers, vaccine manufacturers, the logistics sector, and government entities is crucial to its success. Significant preparation and planning, including contingency planning, is also needed at every stage of the process to ensure manufacturers have the ingredients they need to produce the vaccines, and transportation to get those vaccines in the hands of those who will administer them quickly and safely.

“We recognise that the global transportation of vaccines will be among the most important work in the history of our company, and FedEx is working closely with healthcare customers alongside government officials and regulatory agencies to prepare for the shipment of the vaccines when they are approved and ready,” Muhs said.