Emirates has transported the 1st batch of COVID-19 vaccines for Dubai Health Authority.
Emirates SkyCargo yesterday transported the 1st batch of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine free of charge for Dubai Health Authority.
The vaccines were transported from Brussels on Emirates flight EK 182 on 22nd December,2020, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 22.15 local time.
On arrival at DXB, the containers with the vaccines were unloaded on priority from the aircraft and then taken to Emirates SkyCargo’s dedicated pharma facility Emirates SkyPharma to await clearance for delivery.
“Emirates is proud to be transporting the first batch of Pfizer vaccines for COVID-19 into the UAE for the Dubai Health Authority. Our healthcare ecosystem has played an absolutely critical role in every step of the fight against COVID-19. I would like to thank everyone who has worked unceasingly over the last year to protect the lives of those most vulnerable against the disease. In recognition of their immense contribution for the wellbeing of everyone in the UAE, it has been our honour to transport these vaccines free of charge on our flight.”, said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Group.
“At Emirates SkyCargo we are doing our part to join Dubai’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the effective management of the pandemic by Dubai’s visionary leadership, the city has retained its position as a global logistical hub for connecting vital cargo including PPE, medical supplies, vaccines, food and other essential items. Emirates SkyCargo has set up the world’s largest airside hub dedicated to distributing COVID-19 vaccines and we stand ready to support not just Dubai, but countries around the world, including markets with limited cool chain infrastructure with our advanced capabilities. By transporting COVID-19 vaccines across our extensive network, we look forward to helping people around the world get back on their feet after the devastating impact of the pandemic.”, said Nabil Sultan, Divisonal Vice President, Cargo, Emirates.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine requires to be transported at extremely cold temperatures. It requires a cold-chain all the way from the factory to the hospital.
Emirates SkyCargo has set up the world’s largest dedicated airside storage and distribution hub for COVID-19 vaccines in Dubai with the capacity to store up to an estimated 10 million doses of vaccine at the 2-8C temperature range at any one point of time.
The current pharma network covers over 30 cities across the world including Brussels.
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On 21st December,2020, Singapore Airlines also transported the 1st batch of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from Brussels to Singapore.
Airlines such as American Airlines and FedEx have already started shipping COVID-19 vaccines to different destinations worldwide.