FAA supports first ‘mass airlift’ of Covid-19 vaccine

“Due to the historic pace of vaccine development through Operation Warp Speed ​​and careful logistics planning, the FAA is now supporting the first mass aerial shipment of a vaccine,” the agency said. Friday in a statement.

The FAA said it set up a Covid-19 airlift team in October “to ensure safe, rapid and efficient transport of vaccines.”

He said several vaccines had to be transported with dry ice and that he was working with manufacturers, airlines and airports to provide guidance on regulations to allow large quantities of the dangerous substance to be transported safely in air freight.

Pfizer’s Covid vaccine, for example, requires large amounts of dry ice to keep it around 75 degrees Celsius negative.

In addition to mitigating the safety risks associated with the safe transport of vaccines, the FAA provides 24-hour air traffic services to keep air cargo moving and prioritizes flights carrying cargo, such as vaccines. , and personnel essential to the country’s response to and recovery from Covid-19, ”the FAA’s Friday statement read.

Advisors from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called an emergency meeting for Tuesday on Friday to vote on who they recommend to be the first to get the coronavirus vaccine once it hits. is authorized.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices seeks advice from the public before any decision by the United States Food and Drug Administration regarding emergency authorization of a vaccine, said the chairman of the ACIP, Dr. Jose Romero, to CNN.

Pfizer has asked the FDA to EUA for its vaccine and biotech company Moderna to do so soon.

CNN’s Maggie Fox contributed to this report.