FedEx Express and Innomar Strategies have been contracted to provide an end-to-end logistics solution for COVID-19 vaccine distribution across Canada.
First deliveries of approved COVID-19 vaccines are anticipated during the first quarter of 2021.
Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced this week that the Government of Canada had awarded the logistics contract to the two companies to support the distribution of vaccines across the country.
“The Government of Canada continues to follow an aggressive strategy to ensure that Canadians have access to COVID-19 vaccines. I am pleased to announce this important new contract with FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. which will help save lives and end the spread of COVID-19. This contract helps to ensure that when a vaccine is ready, Canada is ready too,” the minister declared.
FedEx Express Canada said on Twitter: “We are proud to support the Government of Canada and healthcare companies' distribution plans for COVID-19 vaccines.”
Collaboration with local authorities
Working under the direction of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Operations Centre, FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. will provide a variety of services that will assist in warehousing and transportation to provincial and territorial authorities and Indigenous partners to support timely and efficient vaccine administration across the country.
The services provided by FedEx Express Canada and Innomar Strategies Inc. will be fully operational to receive initial doses of vaccines and will facilitate the distribution of doses to provinces and territories from coast to coast to coast, as soon as Health Canada approves their use, a statement said.
In support of readiness efforts, PHAC will be conducting dry-run rehearsals with provinces and territories in December to verify ordering and shipping processes from the point of manufacture to the point of use at designated locations across Canada.
PHAC is working to ensure that initial capacity to receive and administer vaccines is established in advance of anticipated vaccine roll-out dates, and that national capacity to immunize Canadians quickly scales up to meet demand and vaccine availability over the coming weeks and months.
25m vaccine doses
Under its vaccine strategy, the Government of Canada has signed contracts for 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as well as necessary supplies. It has signed agreements with seven companies to secure access to seven COVID-19 vaccine candidates, including with Pfizer and Moderna. Four vaccine candidates are currently under review for approval by Health Canada.
Vaccines will initially be provided for priority populations such as residents and staff in long term care facilities, the elderly, front line health workers and isolated Indigenous communities remote from health care services.
Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the PHAC, has also awarded two contracts for the purchase of 26 freezers at -80 degrees and 100 freezers at -20 degrees Celsius. To date, 42 freezers have been delivered. In addition, the organization plans to buy 265 additional under-the-counter and portable freezers and 23 ultra-low temperature freezers.
