8,000 Jumbo Jets Will Be Needed To Supply The World With Covid-19 Vaccine

By Nsunjo Erica

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that over 8,000 Boeing 747s will be needed to ship a COVID-19 vaccine around the World and that this will be the “largest transport challenge ever”

The Association added that not all planes will be suitable for delivering the COVID-19 vaccines as they need a typical temperature range of between 2 and 8C for transporting drugs.  According to the IATA, Some vaccines may require frozen temperatures which would exclude more aircraft.

“We know the procedures well. What we need to do is scale them up to the magnitude that will be required,” added Glyn Hughes, the industry body’s head of cargo.

The IATA noted that yes, all countries have planes but most of which are more convenient for delivering cargo during the severe downturn in passenger flights and not drugs because shipping vaccines are far more complex.

According to Glyn Hughes, flights shipping vaccines to certain parts of the world, including some areas of South East Asia, will be critical as they lack vaccine-production capabilities.

The Transport Association also said that distributing a vaccine across Africa would be “impossible” right now, IATA says given the lack of cargo capacity, size of the region, and the complexities of border crossings.

According to the IATA, transportation of the vaccines will also need “almost military precision” for security to avoid any theft issues arising up and will require cool facilities across a network of locations where the vaccine will be stored.

“Vaccines will be highly valuable commodities. Arrangements must be in place to keep ensure that shipments remain secure from tampering and theft,” added IATA.

IATA has therefore urged governments to begin careful planning now to ensure they are fully prepared once vaccines are approved and available for distribution. About 140 vaccines are in early development, and around two dozen are now being tested on people in clinical trials.

Although there is no final COVID-19 vaccine yet, the IATA is already working with airlines, airports, global health bodies, and drug firms on a global airlift plan to ensure the distribution program will be a success.

“Safely delivering Covid-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the global air cargo industry. But it won’t happen without careful advance planning. And the time for that is now,” said IATA’s chief executive Alexandre de Juniac.