Coronavirus: Emirates SkyCargo transports 50 million vaccine doses on 150 flights

Airline transported 220 tonnes of vaccines with the UAE central to the global distribution effort

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  The first shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrives at Khartoum airport in the Sudanese capital. The delivery comprises 828,000 doses. AFP

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  More than 800,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine arrive in Sudan. Authorities will begin inoculating frontline medical staff next week. AFP

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  Sudan is set to receive 3.4 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot in the coming months through Covax, a UN-led initiative that provides vaccines to poor countries. AFP

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  Workers from the UN children's fund supervise the arrival of the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at Khartoum airport. AFP

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  A World Health Organisation employee checks the shipment of more than 800,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine after it arrives in Sudanese capital Khartoum. AFP

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  Sudan will begin to vaccinate frontline medical staff against Covid-19 next week after receiving 828,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot. AFP

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  Sudan is expected to receive 3.4 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through the UN's Covax initiative. AFP

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  Unicef workers receive a briefing at Khartoum airport after the first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine arrives. AFP

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  The first shipment of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine arrives at Khartoum airport in the Sudanese capital. AFP

Emirates SkyCargo used 150 flights to deliver 50 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to 50 destinations over the past year.

The airline on Thursday said it was the first cargo company of its kind to have achieved this task.

The air cargo operator also transported more than 100 tonnes of syringes around the world. The airline delivered six types of Covid-19 vaccines.

"Emirates SkyCargo is proud to have reached the 50 million Covid-19 vaccine delivery milestone just ahead of World Health Day [April 7]," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates divisional senior vice president of cargo.

“Our actions over the last year have always been directed at helping communities across the world."

In February, Emirates SkyCargo signed an agreement with the UN children’s fund to prioritise the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines and other life-saving supplies worldwide.

More than 10 global airlines – including Emirates and Etihad Airways – were part of Unicef’s Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative. This helped with the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines, essential medicines, medical devices and other critical supplies to fight the pandemic.

In October, Emirates established the first dedicated airside hub for Covid-19 vaccines in Dubai.

The centre can store about 10 million vaccine vials and prepare shipments for worldwide distribution.

In Abu Dhabi, the Hope Consortium aims to deliver billions of Covid-19 vaccine doses around the world by the end of the year. It is run by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, Etihad Cargo, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Rafed, which is part of ADQ, and SkyCell.