Amid an anticipated surge in\u00a0vaccine logistics demand, Abu Dhabi is poised to cement its position as the global logistics hub to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the world, after spearheading the launch of the Hope Consortium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comprising leading Abu Dhabi and global entities, the Hope Consortium represents a complete supply chain solution to\u00a0address vaccine transport, demand planning, sourcing, training, and digital technology infrastructure, and facilitate vaccine availability across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The news follows Hope Consortium member Etihad Cargo and the consortium transporting five million vaccines in November on behalf of the Department of Health \u2013 Abu Dhabi, which is spearheading the consortium and 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\u2019s award-winning SkyCell, which develops next-generation, temperature-controlled logistics containers for the pharmaceutical industry. As part of the Hope Consortium, SkyCell will establish a regional service and manufacturing centre in Abu Dhabi.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hope Consortium has pooled its collective expertise to garner a multi-faceted capability to provide logistics services to handle over six billion doses from the vaccines being developed and manufactured around the world \u2013 whether in single or multi doses \u2013 in cold and ultra-cold conditions in 2021, rising to over three times more doses by the end of next year \u2013 the largest capacity and logistics capability regionally and one of the largest globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Hope Consortium is a prime example of how Abu Dhabi is leading in providing solutions, capabilities and capacities to help the world get through this global pandemic. It is a continuation of all players\u2019 collaboration of a UAE-based public-private partnership that spans the globe. While assuring vaccine supply to the domestic market, the Hope Consortium will offer international governments, non-governmental organisations, and vaccine suppliers a cohesive solution across every supply chain step \u2013 from air freight, regional storage and temperature monitoring, to inventory management, cold and ultra-cold container solution, regulatory clearance, and healthcare and pharma quality assurance,\u201d explained HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health \u2013 Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDeveloping a vaccine is only the first step in getting to a solution, getting that vaccine to the whole globe, while maintaining a robust integrity of temperature is an equal challenge by itself, the Hope Consortium will provide that solution on the highest level of quality.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cConsortium partners already have extensive expertise in the global delivery of millions of COVID-19 related items, such as personal protective equipment, diagnostics consumables, vaccines and pharmaceuticals. As we progress talks with vaccine manufacturers to apprise them of our global distribution capabilities, the Hope Consortium will harness the united expertise of various Abu Dhabi and UAE stakeholders to provide a fully-fledged, end-to-end solution specifically for COVID vaccine distribution needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Distribution of the vaccines, which will be stored in Abu Dhabi Ports Company facilities, will be carried out by Etihad Cargo, the first Middle Eastern carrier to gain IATA\u2019s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharmaceutical logistics. The UAE\u2019s national carrier will leverage its extensive intercontinental network, fleet and charter flights to supply vaccines globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith two thirds of the world\u2019s human footprint within a four-hour flight of Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital\u2019s investment in technological expertise and world-class infrastructure facilities means we can serve as a global logistical hub to, and for, the world,\u201d explained Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group. \u201cEtihad Cargo\u2019s role in the consortium will leverage our outstanding pharmaceutical logistics expertise and specialised pharma and healthcare service, PharmaLife, the IATA CEIV Pharma certified product capable of facilitating temperature-sensitive cargo between +25\u2070C and -80\u2070C. Our network reach across key destinations will be supported by the utilisation of our charter operations\u00a0to meet global demand for swift and secure COVID-19 vaccine shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are already managing all anticipated shipment elements through our dedicated COVID-19 vaccines workforce,\u201d Douglas added. \u201cA dedicated pharmaceutical handling facility to accommodate increased capacity at our Abu Dhabi hub is also currently under review, as well as additional thermal covers and enhanced capabilities at origin stations based on established pharma trade lanes and specific requests.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As part of the Hope Consortium, Abu Dhabi Ports, which has the Middle East\u2019s largest capacities for cold chain and ultra-cold storage, will leverage its capabilities as an innovation epicentre serving the Middle East and wider world through Abu Dhabi as a supply chain gateway connecting East and West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis collaboration is in line with our ethos of creating innovative ideas, concepts, solutions and opportunities,\u201d said Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports. \u201cAbu Dhabi Ports plays a key role in supporting the Abu Dhabi vision in advancing logistic services in the emirate and leading the post-COVID-19 revival and economic recovery through robust partnerships. Our expansive operations at KIZAD are among the largest cold chain and ultra-cold storing in the region and enable us to support the emirate\u2019s drive to spearhead global immunisation efforts that will positively impact millions of lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn addition to leveraging our world-class trade facilitation expertise, our efforts also rest on our Maqta Gateway subsidiary, which is playing a leading role in the development of integrated, digital, global commerce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Noura Al Dhaheri, Head of Digital Cluster \u2013 Abu Dhabi Ports, CEO of Maqta Gateway, said: \u201cSupporting the uninterrupted flow of critical cargo, such as medical and food supplies have been crucial in Abu Dhabi Ports\u2019 story during 2020, but the distribution of vaccines will form the most significant success to date. Maqta Gateway is committed towards creating innovative digital solutions to boost the transparency and integrity of the region\u2019s supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rashed Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Rafed,\u00a0which has already managed large volume products before and during the pandemic for the UAE and humanitarian initiatives, added: \u201cOur expertise in centralised procurement services will provide vital support to the consortium. Through our collaboration we will better consolidate our efforts for the benefit of our global partners in the public and healthcare sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hope Consortium intends to transport the vaccines using SkyCell\u2019s hybrid containers. The storage and transportation containers are secured through an IoT monitoring service which tracks temperature conditions to ensure sensitive vaccines are protected even under extreme conditions. With efficient insulation and cutting-edge cooling technology, the containers maintain steady temperatures for an average of 202 hours (8.4 days) and self-recharge automatically in a cooling chamber or reefer truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur hybrid containers will safeguard the full efficacy of vaccines that are vital to defeat the pandemic, all while reducing long-term business and environmental costs,\u201d explained Richard Ettl, Chief Executive Officer of SkyCell. \u201cThe Hope Consortium has the right partners, infrastructure and service ecosystem to ensure time and temperature sensitive transportation in a seamless cool chain operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consortium will also be looking to partner with players and stakeholders to improve its offering and innovative solution for the benefit of humanity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Amid an anticipated surge in\u00a0vaccine logistics demand, Abu Dhabi is poised to cement its position as the global logistics hub to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the world, after spearheading the launch of the Hope Consortium. Comprising leading Abu Dhabi and global entities, the Hope Consortium represents a complete supply chain solution to\u00a0address vaccine transport, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9644"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9670,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9644\/revisions\/9670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressreleasenetwork.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}