Geneva – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released guidance to ensure that the air cargo industry is ready to support the large-scale handling, transport and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Distribution provides recommendations for governments and the logistics supply chain in preparation for what will be the largest and most complex global logistics operation ever undertaken.
Reflecting the complexity of the challenge, the Guidance was produced with the
support of a broad range of partners, including the International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Federation of Freight
Forwarders Associations (FIATA), International Federation of
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Pan American Health
Organization (PAHO) , UK Civil Aviation Authority, World Bank, World
Customs Organization (WCO) and World Trade Organization (WTO). The
guidance includes a repository of international standards and guidelines
related to the transport of vaccines and will be updated regularly as
information is made available to the industry. Accompanying the guidance, IATA
established a joint information-sharing forum for stakeholders.
“Delivering billions of doses of a vaccine that must be transported and stored
in a deep-frozen state to the entire world efficiently will involve hugely
complex logistical challenges across the supply chain. While the
immediate challenge is the implementation of COVID-19 testing measures to
re-open borders without quarantine, we must be prepared for when a vaccine is
ready. This guidance material is an important part of those
preparations,” said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.
Key challenges addressed in IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical
Logistics and Distribution include:
- The availability of temperature-controlled
storage facilities and contingencies when such facilities are not
available
- Defining roles and
responsibilities of parties involved in the distribution of vaccines,
particularly government authorities and NGOs, to assist safe, fast and equitable
distribution as broadly as possible
- Industry preparedness for
vaccine distribution which includes:
- Capacity & Connectivity: The global route
network has been reduced dramatically from the pre-COVID 22,000 city
pairs. Governments need to re-establish air connectivity to ensure
adequate capacity is available for vaccine distribution.
- Facilities and infrastructure: The first vaccine
manufacturer to apply for regulatory approval requires the vaccine to be
shipped and stored in a deep-frozen state, making ultra-cold chain
facilities across the supply chain essential. Some types of refrigerants
are classified as a dangerous goods and volumes are regulated which adds
an additional layer of complexity. Considerations include availability
of temperature-controlled facilities and equipment and staff trained to
handle time- and temperature-sensitive vaccines.
- Border management: Timely regulatory
approvals and storage and clearance by customs and health authorities
will be essential. Priorities for border processes include introducing
fast-track procedures for overflight and landing permits for operations
carrying the COVID-19 vaccine and potential tariff relief to facilitate
the movement of the vaccine.
- Security: Vaccines are highly valuable commodities. Arrangements must be in place to ensure that shipments remain secure from tampering and theft. Processes are in place already, but the huge volume of vaccine shipments will require early planning to ensure that they are scalable.
Tags: IATA
