FedEx to Ship First Wave of COVID-19 Vaccines Across the United States
12 December 2020 - 3:46PM
Business Wire
Company to begin COVID-19 vaccine shipments for
Pfizer, Inc.
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the
world’s largest express transportation company, announced today
that operations are in motion to transport its first shipments of
COVID-19 vaccines.
Following the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of
Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
vaccine, FedEx Express will begin transport of the vaccine using
its FedEx Priority Overnight® service supported by FedEx Priority
Alert® advanced monitoring. After months of preparation and close
planning with Pfizer, other healthcare companies, and federal and
state officials, the first COVID-19 vaccines will move to dosing
centers in the United States. Vaccine distribution will be balanced
among major cargo carriers, and FedEx is working closely with
healthcare customers to prepare for additional vaccine shipments
and transportation of critical vaccine-related supplies.
The FedEx network is well-positioned to handle COVID-19 vaccine
shipments around the world with temperature-control solutions, near
real-time monitoring capabilities and a dedicated healthcare team
to support the express transportation of vaccines and bioscience
shipments.
“This is among the most important work in the history of our
company, and we’re honored to be a part of the effort to help end
this pandemic,” said Raj Subramaniam, president and chief operating
officer, FedEx Corp. “I am immensely proud of our dedicated team
members who continue to go above and beyond to help ensure the safe
movement of these critical COVID-19 vaccines, especially during our
busiest holiday shipping season to date. This is who we are and
what we do at FedEx.”
Transportation of COVID-19 vaccines is the next phase of ongoing
FedEx efforts to support pandemic relief around the world. FedEx
has a long history of supporting relief efforts when disasters
strike, using its network and expertise to deliver for good.
“We are one of the few companies with the global network and
capabilities to keep critical supply chains moving during this
unprecedented time,” said Don Colleran, president and chief
executive officer, FedEx Express. “Since the onset of the COVID-19
pandemic, FedEx has delivered more than 55 kilotons of personal
protective equipment, including more than two billion face masks,
and more than 9,600 humanitarian aid shipments around the
globe.”
To help reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccine,
FedEx has committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation
support to several nonprofits serving communities in the U.S. and
around the world. These include Direct Relief, International
Medical Corps, and Heart to Heart International.
“Time-definite express transportation of critical shipments is
exactly what our FedEx Express network was built to do when it
launched in 1973,” said Richard W. Smith, regional president of the
Americas and executive vice president of global support, FedEx
Express. “Almost five decades later, we are proving true to our
founding mission by delivering critical COVID-19 vaccines.”
“This is a historic moment and represents a monumental feat for
vaccine development and expedient deployment,” said Mike McDermott,
president, Pfizer Global Supply. “Outstanding logistics is critical
to get our products to those who need them across the country, and
we’re happy to partner with FedEx in this historic effort to save
lives and put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
About the technology:
At FedEx, the information about the package is as important as
the package itself as it moves through the network. FedEx
SenseAware ID, a Bluetooth low-energy sensor device, will be
affixed to vaccine shipments, helping to ensure these
temperature-sensitive deliveries move swiftly and safely through
the FedEx Express U.S. network with FedEx Priority Overnight
service. From origin to destination, dedicated FedEx Priority Alert
customer support agents are using SenseAware monitoring technology
to track the location of vaccine shipments in near real-time. This
technology is complemented by the FedEx Surround platform, which
leverages artificial intelligence and predictive tools to
proactively monitor conditions surrounding the packages, allowing
customer support agents to intervene if weather or traffic delays
threaten to impede delivery times.
Quick stats about the FedEx network:
- Built over 47 years, the FedEx network consists of more than
5,000 facilities, more than 670 aircraft, more than 180,000
vehicles, and – most importantly – nearly 600,000 dedicated team
members worldwide.
- At present, FedEx Express operates nearly 32,000 flights per
month, and roughly half are missions flown by widebody
aircraft.
- FedEx Express has more than 90 cold chain facilities across
five continents with plans to open additional facilities in coming
years.
- To the extent vaccine shipments may require the use of dry ice,
FedEx Express is capable of safely handling those volumes. FedEx
Express transports approximately 500,000 dry ice shipments a
month.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses
worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and
business services. With annual revenue of $71 billion, the company
offers integrated business solutions through operating companies
competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating
digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked
among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx
inspires its nearly 600,000 team members to remain focused on
safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the
needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how
FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please
visit about.fedex.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201211005642/en/
Isabel Rollison FedEx Media Relations 901-434-8100
mediarelations@fedex.com
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