United Airlines flies FIRST lots of Pfizer COVID vaccine in United States

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United Airlines on Friday began operating charter flights to carry shipments of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine ahead of a mass inoculation program set to begin in late December, according to a report.

The flights are the first step in a global supply and distribution network, which is set to kick in when the vaccine is approved by regulators.

The airline has obtained special clearance from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to fly with increased amounts of dry ice, in order to keep the vaccine cold.

Pfizer’s vaccination should be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius.

The specific charter routes taken were not specified by the Wall Street Journal, which reported the news.

But it was revealed that United intended to fly cargo flights between the Belgian capital, Brussels, and Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to support vaccine distribution, according to a Nov. 24 letter from the FAA consulted. by the Journal.

Brussels and Chicago are both convenient international airports for Pfizer’s factories in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Puurs, Belgium, where final vaccine assembly takes place.

Chicago is also close to Pfizer’s distribution site in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, which is being expanded for vaccine deployment.

The company has another distribution site in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Pfizer is also planning dozens of cargo flights and hundreds of truck trips each day once authorities agree.

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Pfizer vaccine reportedly carried by United Airlines for distribution

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United Airlines was cleared to fly an increased amount of dry ice for cooling

The FAA said in a statement Friday that it was supporting the “ first mass air shipment of a vaccine ” and that it was working with airlines to safely transport COVID-19 vaccines.

United had asked the FAA to be allowed to carry more dry ice than is generally allowed on flights, in a bid to keep the vaccine cool.

The FAA said it would allow United to carry 15,000 pounds of dry ice per flight, which is five times more than what is normally allowed – dry ice is controlled on passenger planes amid concerns about leaks of carbon dioxide, which may not be detected in the open air.

Pfizer created suitcase-sized boxes filled with dry ice to keep its vaccine doses cold, the newspaper reported.

This means they can ship the vaccine faster, eliminating the need for large temperature control containers.

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Pfizer’s vaccine should be stored at incredibly low temperatures in a facility like the one pictured

Pfizer’s vaccine, one of many in development, is giving hope to billions of people around the world.

In the United States, the FDA will meet on December 10 in an emergency session, to be broadcast live, where it will discuss the authorization of the vaccine’s use.

Pfizer requested emergency use on November 20.

How much vaccine is available and when is a moving target, but initial supplies will be scarce and rationed.

Last week, Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed ​​- the U.S. government’s program to coordinate the distribution and administration of the drug – said 4.1 million doses would initially be distributed.

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Gustave Perna was due to retire this year: instead he was given a huge and vital task

Pfizer performed dry trials of every step, from delivering the vaccines to opening the special Pfizer GPS-tracked containers to storing the vaccines, Perna said.

The vaccine will be free for Americans. It was not clear whether those with green cards or in the country with visas would be included.

Disputes are brewing over who will pay. The federal government covers a significant portion of the costs, but states say they need additional funds to pay for the associated costs of monitoring and administering the vaccine.

Perna said they were aware that the 6.4 million doses were not even enough to immunize all 20 million health workers nationwide, let alone the US population of 330 million.

But he said a “ steady drumbeat ” of additional doses will be delivered as manufacturing capacity increases with each successive week.

About 25 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine could become available in December, 30 million in January and 35 million more in February and March, according to information presented to the National Academy of Medicine in late November.

Recipients will need two doses, three weeks apart.

The CDC will meet on Tuesday to decide on recommendations for who should get it first, based on the data and known side effects.

Healthcare workers and vulnerable populations, such as those in nursing homes, are likely to receive the first doses, followed by the elderly.

It is believed that the general population will receive the vaccine around April.

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