Federal regulators are keeping in place a work-hour exemption giving truck drivers more time to haul pandemic-related freight.
With pharmaceutical spending reaching new heights, a single shipment can be worth millions of dollars, leading to monumental financial losses — as well as serious threats to human lives — in the event of a transportation or distribution error.
Most compromised shipments result in lost time and money. Some result in lost lives.
Vaccine distribution is an inherently complex process. The process is further complicated by this specific vaccine’s short shelf life.
The U.N. and World Health Organization are working hard to make sure less-developed countries get their fair share as more vaccine supplies become available. Transportation and logistics is a big part of their organizing effort.
Pharmaceutical companies often get nervous that carelessness by a transportation provider will spoil a shipment of COVID vaccines or other medicines. Airfreight experts say data sharing and teamwork can eliminate most glitches.
The Swiss logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel has extensive pharmaceutical experience and will handle the storage and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines for Moderna around the world.
Russia is shipping its COVID-19 vaccine to several countries, including Argentina.
The United Arab Emirates has its first doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine thanks to a free delivery from national airline Emirates.
Canada now has two COVID-19 vaccines in circulation. FedEx Express flew in the first shipment from Europe on Thursday.
