Hope Consortium
Hope Consortium is a UAE-based public-private partnership that was formed to provide a complete supply chain solution to facilitate the availability of COVID-19 vaccine worldwide. The mission aims to deliver 18 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021.
Hope Consortium consists of some of the leading entities in Abu Dhabi and across the globe. Department of Health- Abu Dhabi (DoH) spearheads the Consortium. In this capacity, DoH monitors the necessary regulatory compliance, scientific insight and full chain expertise.
Other key members include:
- Etihad Cargo
- Abu Dhabi Ports Company
- Rafed, a healthcare purchasing company of Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC- ADQ
- SkyCell (Switzerland’s award-winning enterprise which creates high-tech, temperature-controlled logistics container solutions for the pharmaceutical industry) and
- many other freight forwarder partners.
Etihad Cargo handles the distribution of the vaccine, which is stored in the facilities of Abu Dhabi Ports Company. Etihad Cargo is the first Middle Eastern carrier to have gained IATA’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) certification for pharmaceutical logistics.
Hope Consortium transports the COVID-19 vaccines with the help of SkyCell’s hybrid containers that are protected through an IoT (Internet of Things) monitoring service. SkyCell monitors temperature conditions to protect the sensitive COVID-19 vaccines under extreme conditions.
Hope Consortium has developed the largest ‘freezer farm’ in the UAE with an overall capacity of 53 units. This farm has the capacity to store more than 11 million COVID-19 vaccine doses at ultra-cold temperatures inside the facility in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD).
Watch this video about ‘Hope Consortium’.
Read more
- Abu Dhabi launches 'The Hope Consortium' - Weqaya
- The Hope Consortium - Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
The Emirates airline vaccination hub
Emirates SkyCargo, the airfreight division of the Emirates airline, opened its Emirates SkyCentral DWC cargo terminal in Dubai South to serve as a dedicated anchor hub for global COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Emirates SkyCentral DWC has over 4,000 square metres of temperature controlled GDP (Good Distribution Practices) certified dedicated pharma storage area allowing large scale storage and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The facility can hold around 10 million vials of vaccines at a 2-8 degrees Celsius temperature, at any one point of time.
Emirates SkyCargo’s vaccine hub in Dubai South allows the air cargo carrier to fly in vaccines from manufacturing sites globally and to store and prepare shipments for regional and global distribution.
Watch this video about Dubai’s hub for COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance
Dubai Vaccine Logistics Alliance (DVLA) was launched to speed up distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world through the emirate of Dubai. DVLA extends support to the World Health Organisation’s COVAX initiative and its efforts to equitably distribute two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. DVLA combines the expertise and global reach of Emirates airline with DP World’s worldwide network of ports, along with the infrastructure of Dubai Airports and the International Humanitarian City to distribute vaccines worldwide.
Through this alliance, Dubai is able to store a large volume of vaccines at a time, and bring in and distribute vaccines to any point around the world within 48 hours. As of March 2021, DVLA transported approximately 650 tons of food and 250 tons of pharmaceuticals on a daily basis since it was formed.
Watch this video about the alliance.
Related links:
ERC and Tamouh initiative to provide COVID-19 vaccines
Under a joint initiative between Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) and Tamouh Healthcare Company, COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed to countries facing challenges in limiting the spread of the pandemic. Tamouh will provide the vaccines to be donated to countries chosen by ERC and be responsible for the delivery, logistical operations, shipping costs and expenses of the vaccines to these specified countries.
Related links
- COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution to Low and Middle Income Countries - US-UAE Business Council
- UAE Global Impact: COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution (PDF, 833 KB) - Embassy of United Arab Emirates in Washington D.C.
Updated On :
29 Oct 2024
