DHL Express is Well Positioned for COVID-19 Vaccine Logistics

DHL Express is optimally positioned for the time-critical and continuous delivery of COVID-19 vaccines with its dense air freight network of hubs and gateways. In addition to supplying European countries, DHL Express has delivered batches of COVID-19 vaccines to Bahrain, Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Mexico, Oman, and Singapore.

(Bonn) Since Christmas, DHL Express, the world’s leading express service provider, has conducted more than 50 flights in Europe for the transport of numerous shipments of urgently needed COVID-19 vaccines. The first batches of the vaccines were delivered in Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Lithuania, Norway, Austria, Romania, and Sweden for the initial supply of the population. Some of these countries have already received additional batches from DHL Express, including Italy, Lithuania, Norway, and Romania. With its dense air freight network of hubs and gateways, which includes more than 60 countries and territories in Europe with over a hundred aircraft, DHL Express is optimally positioned for the time-critical and continuous delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.

Network has Proven Stability

“Our international network has already proven its stability and continuity in the first weeks of the pandemic. Even when nearly all countries went into lockdown, not a single one of our hubs stood still, not for a day,” says Alberto Nobis, CEO DHL Express Europe. “It is in our DNA to deliver – even in times of global crises. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our employees and our technical infrastructure, we maintain the supply chains and enable our customers to continue their businesses. With international express deliveries of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are now supporting numerous governments in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Our strong presence in Europe allows us to deliver medical goods within 24 hours between all European countries.” In addition to supplying European countries, DHL Express has delivered batches of COVID-19 vaccines to Bahrain, Chile, Costa Rica, Israel, Mexico, Oman, and Singapore.

9,000 Experts from DHL Working in This Area

More than 9,000 experts are working in DHL’s specialized global network to connect pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, clinical testing and research institutions, wholesalers and distribution companies, as well as hospitals and healthcare providers through digitalization along the entire value chain. From clinical trials to practical application at the point of care. The DHL healthcare portfolio includes more than 150 pharmaceutical companies, 20 depots for clinical trials, 100 certified stations, 160 GDP-certified warehouses, 15 GMP-certified locations, and 135 medical express locations. Global logistics providers are currently facing the challenge of quickly establishing medical supply chains to deliver an unprecedented volume of more than ten billion vaccine doses worldwide, while also reaching the approximately three billion people living in regions with less developed logistics infrastructure. To ensure global supply of COVID-19 vaccines over the next two years, approximately 200,000 pallet deliveries, 15 million deliveries in cool boxes, and 15,000 flights will be required across various supply chains. While the development of vaccines in the past took 5-20 years, the accelerated process for COVID-19 within a year is unprecedented. Certain vaccines have particularly strict temperature requirements of up to -80°C to ensure their effectiveness during transport and storage.
Photo: © DHL www.dpdhl.com