Distributing a Covid-19 vaccine to billions of people around the world will be a mammoth undertaking – a responsibility squarely at the feet of freight forwarders.But are agents and forwarders ready for the biggest vaccination campaign in history?According to Bloomberg, more than 54.3 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in more than 50 countries – an estimated average of 2.76 million doses a day, and after the first month there are already calls for the rollout to be speeded up.According to a survey by The International Air Cargo Association (Tiaca) and Pharma Aero, conducted late last year, only 28% of logistics companies felt well-informed and prepared for the global air transportation of Covid-19 vaccines. While some 87% of respondents indicated they already had the right structure of teams in place, the biggest concerns were around adequate infrastructure – facilities to store vaccinations, cool chain ground equipment, containers, availability of cargo space, and the ability to control the cold chain. And then there are customs delays, which are a reality, particularly in less-developed countries.Speak to forwarders already involved in the distribution of vaccines and other pharmaceuticals and it becomes clear that it is not about the knowhow, but rather the incredibly high volume of cargo at very low temperatures that has to be moved.Analysis by DHL indicates that for 10 billion doses some 200 000 pallets will be required along with 15 000 f lights and 15 million deliveries in cooling boxes.A spokesman for the International Air Transport Association (Iata) told Freight Newsthat they estimated that 8000 full 747 f lights would be required for a single dose of vaccine to 7.8 billion people – a resource that is not available at present.Not breaking the cold chain, however, is one of the biggest challenges forwarders need to overcome as they strategise on how they are going to distribute the pharma cargo. It appears that far more thought has gone into inventing the drug than into how the vaccine will be stored and moved around the world.Locally the Department of Health in January appointed the Cape Town-based Biovac Institute for three months to provide storage and distribution services for vaccines procured to immunise frontline health care workers.Treasury has also given approval to the department to issue a closed bid to three logistics service providers for the storage, transport and distribution of vaccines. These are Imperial Health Sciences, DSV and United Pharmaceutical Distributors. In a deviation from usual government procurement processes, the companies have all been appointed.Analysis by DHL indicates that for 10 billion doses some 200 000 pallets will be required along with 15 000 flights and 15 million deliveries in cooling boxes.
