Kuehne+Nagel selected to handle vaccine distribution in Germany’s most populous state
15 / 12 / 2020
Image source: Numstocker/ Shutterstock
Kuehne+Nagel has been contracted by the German Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to handle the logistical aspects of distributing Covid-19 vaccines in the state.
As part of the contract, Kuehne+Nagel is operating the state’s vaccine distribution centre.
The logistics giant said vaccines are being delivered to the centre, stored stored in temperature pods, repackaged in smaller quantities and distributed daily in a “quality-assured manner” to 53 vaccination centres and other healthcare facilities throughout North Rhine-Westphalia, which is “Germany’s most populous state”.
K+N said it was selected by the German Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, to handle the vaccine distribution task because of its “proven”, cross-transportation pharma and healthcare network, which includes more than 230 certified locations in its air, sea and road logistics divisions.
Detlef Trefzger, chief executive of K+N, explained: “Kuehne+Nagel has been preparing vaccine logistics solutions intensively for months.
“We made sure that the vaccine raw materials and auxiliary equipment such as syringes were in the right place; now we are ensuring that the Covid-19 vaccine is safely distributed from the factory to the end consumer in Germany’s most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia.
“We are ready to support other states and countries in their Covid-19 response as well.”
Karl-Josef Laumann, Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, added: “Vaccinating millions of people in a state as extensive as North Rhine-Westphalia is a historic task on an unprecedented scale.
“I am very pleased that the state has been able to secure such an experienced and competent partner for the central storage and distribution of the vaccines.”
