TIACA and Pharma.Aero highlight importance of ‘air cargo community approach’ in vaccine transportation

TIACA and Pharma.Aero have jointly released a second report for the airfreight and pharma industries, which outlines best practices for handling Covid-19 vaccines and transporting them by air.

The report reinforces that vaccines are high-value, time- and temperature-sensitive items, as well as  highlighting the importance of air cargo community efforts in vaccine transportation.

For example, TIACA and Pharma.Aero’s second Project Sunrays global readiness survey found that “the group of respondents that are the most prepared for the Covid-19 vaccine distribution are those having the combination of dedicated teams and effective collaboration with vaccine manufacturers and their supply chain partners”.

The project welcomed the formation of local air cargo communities at key air cargo hubs, including some members of Sunrays’ Joint Task Force (JTF):

• Brussels Airport’s BRUcure Task Force: Brussels Airport together with Air Cargo Belgium started the BRUcure task force, aiming to prepare the local cargo community stakeholders and align all resources and procedures for the correct handling of Covid-19 vaccines once they started moving through Brussels Airport.
• Edmonton International Airport’s CEIV Cargo Community Ready Response: In early fall 2020, Edmonton International Airport’s CEIV cargo community and partners began preparing for the safe arrival, storage and deployment of vaccines destined for the Canadian region.
• Miami International Airport’s MIAVAC19 Task Force: In anticipation of the eventual development of a covid-19 vaccine, Miami International Airport formed the MIAVAC19 Task Force, a community partnership made up of both public and private entities.
• Singapore Changi Airport’s Changi Ready Task Force: Co-led by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Changi Airport Group, the Changi Ready Task Force is a public-private collaboration involving government agencies, cargo handlers, airlines and freight forwarders to better prepare the Singapore air cargo community to meet the logistical demands of the Covid-19 vaccines distribution.

TIACA and Pharma.Aero said that collectively, these four air cargo communities – as well as the other Joint Task Force members – highlight and underscore the following imperatives:

• Clear local air cargo community objectives
• Inclusive organised structure
• Equal importance with global collaboration
• Recognition that the first vaccines are just the beginning
• Build collaboration and trust

TIACA and Pharma.Aero’s second report also features the latest information about the different Covid-19 vaccine candidates that have received approval or are in the final stage of clinical trials.

The full report can be downloaded for free from Pharma.Aero and TIACA.