HOPE Consortium partners with Via Medica International Healthcare for global vaccination

Abu Dhabi’s HOPE Consortium, a vaccine supply chain, has extended its value proposition to include in-country vaccination services. The new solution combines end-to-end vaccine delivery with rapid on-ground deployment of medical and logistics experts, staff and equipment. The combined service will enable countries and communities with limited medical and logistical capacities to absorb the delivered vaccine supplies.

The HOPE Consortium has partnered with Via Medica International Healthcare, a leading global health care provider with a strong track record in international medical support work to deliver the services.

The partners are deploying logistics experts to ensure that the sensitive vaccine supplies are stored and handled in the required storage environments, thus minimizing the risk of vaccine wastage. Two additional refrigerated vehicles will support the logistical component of the effort by transporting vaccines from the hub to the immunization spokes to provide ample vaccine supplies and maintain the momentum of the effort.

In order to “future proof” the effort, the HOPE Consortium’s team will be training the local medical and logistical staff to ensure that local immunization drives can continue on an efficient course.

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, chairman of the executive committee, HOPE Consortium, and Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “The combination of Abu Dhabi’s proximity to two-thirds of the globe and our strategic logistics capabilities, allow us to not only deliver millions of vaccines to those in need, but also make sure that every vaccine brings us closer to our collective victory against the pandemic. Through our new in-country support initiative, we recognise the needs of individual countries and, in turn, tailor our services to the capabilities of their healthcare infrastructure through a complete end-to-end solution.”

Robert Sutton, Head of Logistics Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “The launch of our in-country support service is recognition that delivering vaccines alone is simply not enough, and that we need to go one step further. While the global community stands united in our common need for the vaccines, many parts of the world may not have the capacity nor expertise to absorb these sensitive supplies safely and efficiently. This leads to potential vaccine wastage which is a major problem at a time when the global demand greatly outstrips the global supply. This is why together with our partners at Via Medica, the HOPE Consortium is working closely with countries and communities on-ground to deliver a sustainable immunisation solution that ensures that every vaccine delivered is a vaccine administered.

Frank Ludick, CEO-International of Via Medica, said, “We are pleased of our partnership with the HOPE Consortium and to bring our expertise and innovations to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to counter the risks associated with a pandemic like COVID-19 through our rapid medical deployment teams, in-country temperature control procedures, and robust and integrated IT systems.”