Distributing urgently needed COVID-19 vaccines across the USA over the coming weeks will take top priority over delivering Christmas presents, UPS and FedEx executives underlined yesterday.
The two companies stressed to the US Senate’s transportation committee that they are ready to handle the historic challenge of distributing the vaccines across the country as part of the government’s Operation Warp Speed (OWS) programme.
US authorities are expected to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine within the next few days. Distribution could then start within 24 hours to 636 locations across the country, according to officials.
The two express giants have effectively “split up” the US into different regions, with each company taking responsibility for specific states, to ensure smooth transportation and delivery operations.
UPS handled Pfizer clinical trials
Wes Wheeler, head of UPS Healthcare, said: “UPS has spent many weeks designing the supply routes and expected data flows for these vaccines. Capacity has been reserved in our air network, our operating hubs and our ground operations. We are ready.”
With UPS operating a single integrated network, the long-serving healthcare logistics expert made clear: “We’re giving priority to all the vaccine shipments.” The vaccine shipments will be loaded first on planes and trucks, and have special handling at ground facilities, he explained. “Our pilots and drivers will know they are carrying vaccines.”
UPS will use GPS tracking, temperature sensors, labels with radio transmitters, and priority status labels to ship vaccines protected by dry ice, and will monitor them in a new command center.
Wheeler also underlined that UPS Healthcare was already the logistics partner for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial, adding: “In fact, we are providing logistics support for eight of the ten leading vaccines in clinical trials today. Our experience with these trials is helping us prepare for the vaccines when they come to market.”
In terms of geographical distribution, he commented: “Of course, FedEx and UPS have split the country into two. We know exactly what states we have, and they know what states they have.”
Meanwhile, UPS has already started delivering supplies, including syringes, needles and protective equipment, to vaccination centres ready for use once the vaccines arrive.
FedEx Express will handle vaccine shipments
Richard Smith, FedEx Express EVP for global support, reiterated that the two companies are well prepared for the gigantic logistics operation, and FedEx Express had reserved sufficient air capacity for the vaccine shipments.
He explained: “Once the vaccines are approved and ready for distribution, vaccine and related healthcare shipments will be the top priority for the FedEx Express network, with support provided by our FedEx Logistics and Custom Critical teams.”
Outlining FedEx’s technical preparations, he said the company would use its SenseAware ID device to track shipments and monitor temperatures, as well as other equipment and software.
Smith stressed: “You have two fierce rivals … in FedEx and UPS, who are literally teaming up to get this delivered.” In some cases, the two competitors will collaborate for vaccine shipments, with UPS doing the preparatory kitting work and FedEx then shipping the vaccines to certain states, he pointed out.
Earlier this week, the FedEx Express executive told an Operation Warp Speed vaccine summit at the White House, also referring to UPS: “There’s plenty of capacity in our networks to handle this, and remember it’s not all going to hit us on a Tuesday. It’s going to come over time, so we’ve got this. Relax.”
FedEx also underlined in a statement this week that it will use separate services to deliver the vaccines and to handle peak season online orders. "At FedEx we have two networks for parcel delivery – FedEx Express with time-definite and cold chain capabilities which serves our healthcare customers and is ready to ship vaccines, as well as FedEx Ground, our ground network which predominantly handles the surge of e-commerce shipments during our holiday peak effort. The distinction means that each will have the dedicated resources they need to deliver quickly and safely."
Both UPS and FedEx have invested substantially in their cold chain warehousing and transportation capabilities in recent years, including ‘freezer farms’ for storage of vaccines at temperatures as low as -70°C (for the Pfizer vaccine), dry ice production, special containers and other equipment.
