The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced Tuesday the department has made preparations to enable the immediate mass shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The Department has laid the groundwork for the safe transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine and is proud to support this historic endeavor,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said.
The department said it had been working with “Operation Warp Speed,” the Trump administration’s commission on vaccine development, to coordinate with private sector companies to carry the vaccines from manufacturing facilities to distribution centers and inoculation points. The department said it has established safety requirements for all the potential hazards involved in shipping the vaccines, including standards for dry ice and lithium batteries.
In October, the “FAA COVID-19 Vaccine Air Transport Team” was established by the USDOT to support transportation and distribution of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in a safe and expedited manner. The department said coordination with the USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration was key to ensuring the vaccine would be transported safely.
The USDOT said it has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to coordinate with other U.S. government agencies, air carriers, and aviation stakeholders to ensure the continued transport of medical supplies and personnel, as well as working to support the supply chain through emergency regulations.