The global effort to move Covid-19 vaccines has begun

Around the world, countries are issuing emergency approvals of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Now transportation and logistics companies face a huge challenge: Getting millions of doses to people who need them at hospitals, clinics and care homes. The US FDQ has authorized the vaccine for emergency use. The UK and Canada have given the green light to begin distribution. Approval of the Moderna (MRNA) vaccine could also be imminent, following reviews that showed it was both safe and effective. Businesses have been preparing for this moment for months. Thermo King — which revolutionized the transportation of food through advances in temperature-controlled shipping before World War II — has been working with pharmaceutical companies, governments and logistics firms to ensure vaccines stay frozen as they travel to clinics and hospitals. To make this happen, they've reworked containers typically used to transport fresh tuna to Japan, which requires similar frigid conditions. "We took that product and we amended it," said Francesco Incalza, president Thermo King Europe, Middle East and Africa. Tuna must be stored at -60 degrees Celsius, or -76 degrees Fahrenheit, to maintain its quality and deep red hue when it reaches supermarkets and restaurants, Incalza said. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has to be stored at -70 degrees Celsius, or -94 degrees Fahrenheit, while in transit. So Thermo King, which is part of Ireland-based Trane Technologies, made some tweaks, adding additional insulation and adjusting the refrigeration system so it could get even colder. Now, each 20-foot-long container can carry 300,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by land or sea. Some have already been sold and are making their way around the globe. It's just one example of how companies stand at the ready to handle the delicate, complex process of vaccine distribution. Story has more.<br/>