FAA grants approval for mass air shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Chicago-headquartered airline company United Airlines Inc. has reportedly started operating charter flights for the distribution of Pfizer Inc.’s COVID-19 vaccine after receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).

For the record, Pfizer Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical company that works on the discovery, research, and manufacture of biopharmaceutical healthcare products. The company’s COVID-19 vaccine recently concluded 95% efficacy and is anticipated to receive FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval by mid-December. Apparently, the company currently has manufacturing plants in Michigan and Belgium as well.

If sources are to be believed, the U.S. government initiative Operation Warp Speed, which was introduced to accelerate the development and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, intends to begin the delivery of the drug within 24 hours after it receives authorization by the FDA.

United Airlines is being backed by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to conduct the mass inoculation program; sources claimed. Moreover, the government body has granted permission to the airline to carry large quantities of dry ice for effectual storage of the vaccine.

It is to be noted that the vaccine requires a minimum storage temperature of minus 94 Fahrenheit. In this context, sources claimed that Pfizer will be transporting the drug in containers holding around 20 pounds of dry ice.

Sources aware of the recent development cited that the FAA’s role will be to ensure continual air traffic services for the flights carrying the vaccine as well as assist manufacturers and airport authorities meeting current regulatory requirements and safely transporting large quantities of dry ice.

In other news, the United Kingdom has secured around 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by American biotechnology company, Moderna Inc. Sources close to the matter claimed that the country will begin vaccinating around 3.5 million people.

Source credits: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/11/29/pfizer-covid-vaccine-faa-belgium-air-shipment/6445339002/

Other news: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/uk-secures-additional-2-million-doses-of-moderna-covid-vaccine-2331607