FedEx gears up to distribute Covid-19 vaccines regionally

Singapore

WITH Singapore looking to be a hub for distributing Covid-19 vaccines to the region, major logistics players like FedEx are gearing up for the job.

Last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore will play a crucial role in transporting Covid-19 vaccines around the world, as a global aviation hub. Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said Singapore has the capabilities to serve as a regional distribution hub, while Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said Singapore could help in the "fill-and-finish" stage of production - where vials are filled with vaccines and packaged for distribution.

Firms are keen to signal their capabilities for the task. In a media tour on Thursday, FedEx personnel showcased its Life Sciences Express Hub at Changi Districentre. The 6,000 sqm facility - close to the size of a football field - contains cold rooms and freezers capable of keeping vaccines at different temperature ranges. Besides serving as a warehouse for vaccines shipped to Singapore, the centre can also service vaccine makers who require supplemental warehousing.

FedEx operates similar facilities around the world. In Asia, FedEx has Life Sciences centres in two key locations besides Singapore: Seoul, and Tokyo. Its facility in Seoul is smaller than Singapore's, sized at 1,000 sqm; while the one in Tokyo is much larger, totalling 37,800 sqm.

FedEx also has a second facility in Singapore - a S$97 million South Pacific Hub located at Changi Airport, managing deliveries to and from other countries. Spanning over 26,000 sqm, the hub is equipped with ultra-low temperature freezers and refrigerated rooms for temporary storage in case of any delays in clearance requirements. FedEx has a similar hub in Guangzhou, China.

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On Thursday, FedEx also briefed the media on its various packaging and freight solutions, which can keep vaccines in temperatures ranging from 25°C to as low as -150°C, depending on the solutions used.

At the extreme end, its deep frozen shipping solution uses dry vapour technology to enable up to 10 days of holding time at -150°C. Its insulated packaging can maintain temperatures of between -20°C to 25°C using gel packs, and as low as -70°C using dry ice. Battery-powered refrigerators, dubbed "C-Safe" containers, can be used to maintain temperatures of 4°C to 25°C.

Meanwhile, FedEx uses its SenseAware in-package monitoring device to record a shipment's "vital signs" in transit: temperature, location, light exposure, humidity, shock and barometric pressure.

Separately, Lim Tze Hsien, managing director of UPS Singapore and Malaysia, told BT that UPS is a key player in preparations to distribute vaccines globally, having supported the distribution of Pfizer-BioNTech as well as Moderna vaccines in the US. UPS's capabilities include a new "command centre" that collects data 24/7, including from clients' temperature recorders. UPS has also designed software to detect network disruptions and recommend countermeasures in real-time.

"Singapore has been at the forefront of authorising the Covid-19 vaccine and preparing for its roll-out, and is primed to become a regional distribution hub," said Mr Lim. "UPS stands ready to work closely with critical players in these supply chains, to deliver what matters most."

FedEx, UPS and DHL are among the 10 logistics firms represented on the Changi Ready Taskforce.

The taskforce is co-led by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Changi Airport Group, and was formed in October to ensure Singapore can meet the logistical demands of vaccine distribution. Singapore Airlines as well as cargo handlers dnata and Sats are also members.