Zipline, Pfizer and BioNTech has announced that Zipline has successfully completed the first long-range drone delivery of both authorized mRNA COVID-19 vaccines requiring ultra-cold-chain in Ghana.
The collaboration of the companies, which worked together earlier this year to develop and test an end-to-end vaccine delivery solution, will allow for the distribution of approximately 50,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in Ghana, pioneering a new model for vaccine distribution, they state.
Paving the way for drone deliveries of all mRNA vaccines
In addition to financial support for the pilot program, Pfizer and BioNTech provided technical assistance and know-how specific to the management and storage of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine at -90°C to -60°C. This partnership has paved the way for drone deliveries of all mRNA vaccines.
To-date, more than 220,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from multiple manufacturers have been successfully distributed across Ghana by Zipline. Zipline plans to distribute millions more as supply becomes available.
“Delivery to people in remote and hard-to-reach places is a primary challenge for global vaccination.”
“Delivery to people in remote and hard-to-reach places is a primary challenge for global vaccination,” says Keller Rinaudo, Co-founder and CEO, Zipline. “In partnership with Pfizer and BioNTech, we have created a solution to address this potential pain point head on. Together, we are working to help transform vaccine distribution into a more effective, equitable process.”
A coordinated effort
“The global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines requires a coordinated effort. We are working together with local partners and governments to establish a robust local end-to-end manufacturing and distribution network,” says Sierk Poetting, Chief Operating Officer, BioNTech. “This collaboration between Pfizer, BioNTech and Zipline showcases our collective commitment to pioneering new solutions that can help address COVID-19 vaccine access challenges.”
Zipline, Pfizer and BioNTech tested and validated the end-to-end model for delivery of mRNA vaccines with ultra-cold-chain requirements, and Zipline will now utilize it to distribute Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines, as well as COVID-19 vaccines from all manufacturers, to regions across Ghana.
Photo: Zipline
