UNICEF aims to distribute 2bn doses during 2021
The World Economic Forum (WEF) and multiple players in the global logistics chain are working together to support UNICEF in distributing COVID-19 vaccines under the global COVAX programme.
UNICEF plans to distribute around 2bn doses within the year, targeting affordable and equitable vaccine distribution to 20% of the world’s population within 2021.
In order to comprehensively administer COVID-19 vaccines to populations in all countries, the various vaccines will have to be transported and distributed in a coordinated, multimodal, affordable, sustainable and reliable manner via air, sea and land.
The companies have committed to enable the safe, sustainable and globally inclusive distribution of COVID-19 vaccines having signed the WEF Supply Chain and Transport Industry Charter.
As part of this, the signatories intend to engage with governments, customs authorities, UNICEF and other UN agencies, and NGOs to enter into private-public partnerships, as appropriate, to ensure fast, prioritised and safe global movements of COVID-19 vaccines.
Additionally, they will participate in operational asset and competency sharing to resolve bottlenecks and fill potential gaps in the vaccine supply chain.
The companies will also assign expertise to support governments to advise on solutions related to on-the-ground COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning.
Sea freight plays an important role in ensuring the movement of related medical supplies and some of the newer vaccines in development can be safely handled by refrigerated containers as they potentially have longer shelf life and require less stringent temperature controls of 2-8°C in transit.
It is thought that sea freight can offer a competitive advantage in distributing vaccines globally, including to remote regions around the world, owing to active power sources onboard vessels and remote temperature monitoring, thereby ensuring product integrity, visibility and rapid responses to exception management.
As a signatory to the WEF and UNICEF charter, PSA International will offer access to its global infrastructure, logistics knowledge and expertise, as well as on-the-ground assistance in supply chain operations.
Tan Chong Meng, group CEO of PSA International, said: “PSA stands alongside our industry partners and stakeholders as we commit to ensuring the well-being of the seafarers in our spheres of influence, and to do our part to enable the globally inclusive, safe and sustainable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.”
Fellow signatory DP World has also announced a partnership with UNICEF to support the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and related immunisation supplies in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
UNICEF will use DP World’s warehouse facilities in Dubai to optimise access to many countries while the terminal operator has committed to leveraging its global logistics infrastructure and services on a pro-bono basis in support of COVID-19 vaccine logistics needs, including transport, port and storage requirements.
Dubai is currently used by UNICEF as a strategic hub for pre-positioning auxiliary materials needed for the COVID-19 vaccine campaigns, such as syringes and safety boxes.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Distributing COVID-19 vaccines is humanity’s biggest logistics challenge since the end of the Second World War.
“We offer our infrastructure and expertise to support this effort because everyone should have access to vaccines, especially the most vulnerable in our society. Unless the vaccine is available to all, the pandemic will not end for anyone.”
Other signatories include CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC and the Port of Antwerp.
