More than 7 billion additional doses are needed to keep the world pandemic-free: DHL

ESTIMATING that a further seven to nine billion doses of vaccines are necessary annually from 2022 onwards to keep (re-)infection rates low, international courier DHL highlighted the need for international collaboration, calling for "free borders" in vaccine delivery.

In a media briefing on its latest white paper titled "Revisiting Pandemic Resilience", Thomas Ellmann, vice-president, Life Sciences & Healthcare EMEA, DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation, said on Tuesday that it was important for countries to have "free borders" in order for vaccines to be delivered on time.

"There are only eight main manufacturing countries... so it's very important that vaccines flow over the planet (and) that nothing gets stuck at the borders, or in customs," he said.

DHL's white paper also highlighted the need for collaboration among nations and industries, proactive transport-capacity management as well as locally tailored last-mile, ground distribution models for vaccination.

These measures ought to be kept up with, to prepare for mutations and re-infections, said DHL in a statement.

Citing Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, who said last month that the world may need a "third shot", Mr Ellmann also noted a possibility of an "emergency" and advised countries to also keep its manufacturing capacity ready to "ramp up manufacturing" should the need arise.

Estimating that a further seven to nine billion additional shots are needed per year to end the pandemic, the white paper also underlined a need for countries to booster vaccinations and expand vaccinations to new groups, a measure that had earlier been adopted in Singapore.

The multi-ministry taskforce had announced on Tuesday that more would receive first doses of the vaccine, while second doses were to be delayed.

DHL also cautioned the need to prepare for the next public health emergency and recommended that countries leverage digital contact tracing and monitoring app as well as improve early-warning systems, among other measures.

Asked if there would be enough capacity to deliver vaccines worldwide, Katja Busch, chief commercial officer, DHL and head of DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation, was confident, noting that DHL had already shipped more than 200 million vaccines to about 120 countries.

"There is enough capacity and we haven't seen any shortage. Each and every airline will always prioritise shipments like that so this is no concern at all," said Ms Busch.

To achieve high levels of immunisation, around 10 billion vaccine doses are required globally by end of 2021, said DHL in its statement, but only one billion doses have been administered.