Brussels Airport and Air Cargo Belgium set up Covid vaccine task force

Brussels Airport and Air Cargo Belgium have created a taskforce to help it prepare for the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The Taskforce, BRUcure, is mapping out all scenarios for the various types of vaccines in close consultation with the pharmaceutical companies that Brussels Airport works with.

“Each type of vaccine demands a different form of transport, packaging and storage,” the Belgian Airport said. “Some vaccines, for example, have to be shipped on dry ice, while others will demand refrigeration at the customary 2-8 degrees Celsius.”

Other factors being considered by the taskforce are the manufacturing location of the vaccines, the number of doses per person and the volume that a cargo pallet with vaccines will occupy taking into account the packaging.

Arnaud Feist, chief executive of Brussels Airport Company, said: “Brussels Airport has been investing for over 10 years in a range of services and products tailored to the needs of the pharmaceutical sector, one of the country’s key industries.

“We have, together with our community partner Air Cargo Belgium, set up the Taskforce BRUcare specially for the Covid-19 vaccine so that we can guarantee, in partnership with the major vaccine manufacturers, a reliable and rapid transport at our airport.”

Geert Keirens of Air Cargo Belgium said: “The Covid-19 vaccine story yet again shows the strength of Brucargo. Thanks to the community’s extensive experience in transporting vaccines, in particular the Ebola vaccine on dry ice, and the long-standing collaboration, our cargo community can offer a robust logistics platform for importing and exporting all types of Covid-19 vaccines, at the service of public health.

“In addition, ACB, thanks to a partnership with the province of Flemish Brabant, is focusing on a community control tower function, whereby Covid-19 vaccine shipments will be continuously monitored at Brucargo.”