UPS delivers one billion vaccine doses by adapting unique global efforts

UPS marks the delivery of one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses with near-perfect on-time delivery. This milestone was achieved just one year after the first vaccine was delivered by UPS.

UPS incorporated some unique global efforts like Ultra-cold freezer donations and in-kind vaccine deliveries to facilitate equitable distribution to remote and rural areas throughout Africa, South America, Asia, North America, and Europe, made possible by The UPS Foundation.

They partnered with Gavi and other organizations to train and manage ultra-cold vaccine movement in COVAX countries, supporting COVID relief and healthcare infrastructure moving forward, embedded UPS logistic experts in countries including Indonesia and Malawi to fully and safely manage vaccine distribution logistics. UPS support of vaccine doses delivered via autonomous aircraft to clinics in Africa through the partnership between Zipline and Gavi, and more.

“UPSers have been essential in the fight against Covid-19, delivering equitable access to critical healthcare services. This milestone would not have been possible without every person in our global network working tirelessly, alongside our partners and customers, to accelerate vaccine distribution and help keep communities as safe as possible,” said Kate Gutmann, Chief Sales and Solutions Officer and Executive Vice President, UPS Global Healthcare.

The global UPS network and dedicated UPS employees not only supported healthcare customers and global organizations, but also joined in public-private partnerships to provide vaccines and cold chain expertise to countries with hard-to-reach populations, ensuring delivery to as many people as possible.

To achieve this, UPS Healthcare mapped roughly 500 trade lanes to enable seamless worldwide vaccine shipments and used more than three million pounds of dry ice to help safely move vaccines.

“UPS Healthcare has set the global pace for COVID-19 vaccine delivery, supported by the unmatched dedication of UPSers and the company’s global logistics capabilities and expertise,” said UPS Healthcare President Wes Wheeler. “Medicines derived from biologics and delivered via cutting edge cold chain networks represent the future of healthcare, and UPS Healthcare is leading the way.”

Supported over 130 vaccine clinical trials to date through the UPS Healthcare subsidiary Marken, which is involved in nearly all vaccines and treatments in development today.

“Service is in our DNA. We will continue to provide life-saving supplies, vaccines and other therapies with a constant eye on equitable distribution in every country we serve,” said Laura Lane, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, who also has responsibility for global social impact and sustainability.