Abu Dhabi to be global logistics hub for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

Our Correspondent

The expected surge in vaccine logistics demand is likely to see Abu Dhabi poised as the global logistics hub for COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the world. The UAE capital has launched the Hope Consortium comprising leading Abu Dhabi and global entities.

The Hope Consortium which represents a complete supply chain solution to address vaccine transport, demand planning, sourcing, training, and digital technology infrastructure, will facilitate vaccine availability across the world.

Hope Consortium member Etihad Cargo and the consortium are transporting five million vaccines in November on behalf of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, which will oversee regulatory compliance, full chain expertise and scientific insight.

The consortium also includes Abu Dhabi Ports Group; Rafed, the healthcare purchasing arm of Abu Dhabi-based ADQ; and Switzerland’s SkyCell, which develops next-generation, temperature-controlled logistics containers for the pharmaceutical industry. SkyCell will establish a regional service and manufacturing centre in Abu Dhabi.

The Hope Consortium has pooled its collective expertise to create a multi-faceted capability that can provide logistics services for over six billion doses of the vaccines being developed and manufactured around the world – both single and multi-dose – in cold and ultra-cold conditions in 2021. This can rise to over three times more doses by the end of 2021, thus becoming the largest capacity and logistics capability regionally and one of the largest globally.

The vaccines will be stored in Abu Dhabi Ports Company facilities, which have the Middle East’s largest capacities for cold chain and ultra-cold storage.

The consortium will be looking to partner with players and stakeholders to improve its offering and innovative solutions for the benefit of humanity.