Abu Dhabi vaccine hub increases distribution with global logistics companies

Hope Consortium to work with four major firms with access to more than 170 countries

A lab technician oversees the filling and package of vials for the large-scale production of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate at the Italian manufacturing facility of Catalent in Anagni, southeast of Rome, September 11, 2020. AFP

The Oxford vaccine could be among the first to hit the market. Vincenzo Pinzo / AFP

A boy looks at Sinovac Biotech's vaccine candidate at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing. AFP

A technician looks at monkey kidney cells as he makes a test on an experimental vaccine for Covid-19 at Sinovac Biotech facilities in Beijing. AFP

A clinical research nurse prepares a Covid-19 vaccine to administer to a volunteer, at a clinic in London. AP

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra speaks to the press during a visit to the bio-medical department of the Cayetano Heredia National University in Lima, where studies for vaccines against coronavirus are being developed. AFP

Robyn Porteous, a vaccine trial volunteer, is injected as part of South Africa's human clinical trial at the Wits RHI Shandukani Research Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Reuters

A nurse inoculates volunteer Ilya Dubrovin, 36, with Russia's new coronavirus vaccine at a clinic in Moscow. AFP

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg (L) and Minister for Development Aid Dag Inge Ulstein (R) participate in a digital meeting with international leaders about a fair global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines at the the Prime Minister's office in Oslo on 10 September 2020. EPA

A medic works in a lab during clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine at Research Centres of America in Hollywood, Florida. Bloomberg

A Covid-19 vaccine distribution hub in Abu Dhabi has partnered with four international logistics companies to boost its global reach.

Abu Dhabi Hope Consortium, established last month, aims to deliver billions of vaccine doses around the world by the end of the year.

On Thursday, the consortium signed agreements with Agility Logistics, Aramex, Hellman Worldwide Logistics and Kuehne+Nagel. The partnership will benefit from the companies' global access, raising potential distribution coverage to 80 per cent of the world, according to Abu Dhabi Government Media Office.

The four companies operate in more than 170 countries and, under the agreements, will help the consortium deliver billions of vaccines over the next two years.

More than five million doses have already been distributed since the consortium's launch.

The distribution of vaccines worldwide is challenging because most of the vaccines under development require very cold storage.

But the hub will ensure vaccines are stored at the correct temperature, sourced and distributed depending on demand, and correctly tracked.

The Hope Consortium is run by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Rafed, part of ADQ, and SkyCell.

“Developing a vaccine is only the first step in getting to a solution," said Sheikh Abdullah Al Hamed, chairman of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

"Getting that vaccine to the whole globe, while maintaining a robust integrity of temperature is an equal challenge by itself. The Hope Consortium will provide that solution on the highest level of quality."