Airports urged to step up security efforts for COVID-19 vaccine cargo

MONTREAL (Reuters) – Airports around the world are urged to step up security efforts to protect shipments of COVID-19 vaccines amid warnings from police about potential targeting of criminal networks.

The recommendation from a global airport body comes as pharmaceutical companies and airlines lead the largest logistics operation of its kind to distribute vaccines designed to fight the global pandemic.

As part of a larger advisory bulletin on vaccine distribution recently sent to members, Airports Council International recommended that affected airports liaise with local authorities and conduct risk assessments for shipments due to delays. potential threats.

The bulletin was posted on the group’s website Friday, a spokesperson said.

“The sensitive nature of vaccines, the high level of demand that there will be to obtain them and the initial shortage has the potential to attract some attention from individuals or groups with malicious intentions,” he said. he declares.

“Consideration should be given to increased protection of these assets and / or the facilities that will house them. In many cases, this requires coordination with local security authorities. “

Interpol’s global police coordinating agency recently warned that organized criminal networks could target COVID-19 vaccines, possibly through infiltration or disruption of supply chains. [FWN2II0HH]

The bulletin also advised airports to consider safety measures given the use of large volumes of dry ice required to meet ultra-cold vaccine requirements. The transport of dry ice is regulated because it is considered a “dangerous good”.

Discussions are underway within the United Nations aeronautical agency to “increase the volume of dry ice that can be transported in a single plane, provided that strict protocols are followed,” he noted.

A vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE has begun to be administered to people in the United States and Britain and a second vaccine, from Moderna Inc, is expected to obtain regulatory approval from the Food and Drug Administration. United States within a few days.