We Need 8,000 Cargo Planes To Transport COVID-19 Vaccine Around The World

Dhir Acharya - Sep 15, 2020


We Need 8,000 Cargo Planes To Transport COVID-19 Vaccine Around The World

We haven't had a ready COVID-19 vaccine yet, but when we do, we will need to have it distributed around the world. Cargo planes will help us do that.

Since its outbreak late last year, COVID-19 has become the most concerning problem in the world with many researchers and companies around the world rushing to develop an effective vaccine against the disease. Over the past months, we have seen several COVID-19 vaccine candidates that got very close to being approved for common use, Russia even released its Sputnik V already.

However, once a vaccine is ready, how could it be safely transported in large amounts to different countries across the globe? The International Air Transport Association is urging airlines and governments to begin working on a transporting solution right now.

cargo planes
Cargo planes will transport the COVID-19 vaccine to every country

According to the IATA, it will require 8,000 Boeing 747 planes to transport the vaccine around the world so that everyone can get a dose. Alexandre de Junia, the chief executive of the association, 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.”

While a potential COVID-19 vaccine is still in the trial phase conducted around the world, the IATA says that there’s not much time because preparations for secure transport of the vaccine will involve a lot of planning, cooperation, and coordination. Airlines, airports, pharmaceutical companies, and health organizations have to work together to ensure the seamless distribution of the vaccine. Juniac explained:

“We urge governments to take the lead in facilitating cooperation across the logistics chain so that the facilities, security arrangements, and border processes are ready for the mammoth and complex task ahead.”

covid-19 vaccine
A plane has to meet specific requirement to carry drugs

We need cargo planes to carry the vaccine because not all plans can house them safely throughout a trip. For instance, drug transportation requires a temperature of 2-8 degrees C, according to the BBC.

Other vaccines may need freezing, which cannot be done on a random airplane. Not just that, the staff on these planes will need training as well. There will have to be proper monitoring systems along with flight crews that have special permission not to be quarantined when they move between countries to speed up the distribution. Last but not least, security is an important matter as the vaccine will face theft and tampering risks.

>>> Scientists Suspect The Trial Result Data Of Russia's COVID-19 Vaccine To Be Unreal

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