Rush tor Covid vaccines distribution
Worldwide preparations under way
AIRPORT VOICE, OCTOBER 2020 3
The world is rushing to
produce vaccines. There are
about 100 different companies
in research with 42 undergoing
clinical trials, and the U.S.
Project Warp Speed is basically
footing the bill for domestic
research, testing and
distribution. Distributions of
FDA unapproved but promising
vaccines are reportedly
about to be delivered to unknown
locations in the U.S.
According to the administration,
both military and commercial
entities will deliver
these vaccines.
Here are some of the current
air cargo preparedness
updates:
New York State
Governor Cuomo has announced
two task forces; one
for the overview of the vaccine,
and the other for vaccine
distribution.
The Vaccine Distribution
and Implementation Task
Force will develop a plan for
vaccine administration that
will include:
Prioritization of vaccine
recipients, distribution network
, qualified administration
of the vaccine tracking
program metrics Public education,
procurement of necessary
supplies and equipment.
The Vaccine Distribution
and Implementation Task
Force is comprised of experts
in public health, immunizations,
government operations,
data and other fields relevant
to vaccine distribution and administration.
FedEx
FedEx has launched a lightweight,
sensor-based logistics
device called SenseAware ID
that enables the highly precise
tracking of shipments
and intends to use it in the distribution
of Covid-19 vaccines
when they become available.
SenseAware ID transmits
precise package location data
every two seconds via Bluetooth.
DHL
DHL is already discussing
how they will handle transporting
the vaccine. According
to DHL, 125,000 to 140,000
doses of the vaccine will fit
onto one Boeing 747,DHL
Global Forwarding CEO David
Goldberg said.
Brussels
Brussels Airport and Air
Cargo Belgium have created a
taskforce to help it prepare for
the launch of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The Taskforce, BRUcure, is
mapping out all scenarios for
the various types of vaccines
in close consultation with the
pharmaceutical companies
that Brussels Airport works
with. Factors being considered
are the manufacturing
location, the number of doses
per person and the volume
that a cargo pallet with vaccines
will occupy.
Lufthansa at Frankfurt
Airport
Airport operator Fraport
and Lufthansa Cargo, together
with other partners
of the air cargo community
are prepared for handling a
possible corona vaccine. Currently,
around 12,000 square
meters of temperature-controlled
handling capacity with
tarmac access are available
at Frankfurt Airport. Two
thirds of this capacity in the
highly modern Lufthansa
Cargo Pharma Hub.
Lufthansa has a task force
at JFK to coordinate efforts.
Swissport
Of 115 cargo warehouses
which Swissport runs around
the globe, 72 facilities are
equipped with temperature
controlled facilities and many
workers are trained to the required
standards and procedures.
. Based on in-house
validations, cargo operations
which achieve set standards
in terms of infrastructure,
processes and staff training
will be brought under the
Swissport Pharma Center label.
Port Clean Construction Program Coincides with Climate Week celebration
The Port Authority of
New York and New Jersey
announced today the implementation
of a Clean Construction
Program, one of
the most ambitious programs
of its kind among U.S.
transportation agencies, that
will reduce carbon emissions
throughout the design
and construction processes.
This important measure ensures
that a minimum of
75% of concrete, asphalt, and
steel construction waste is
diverted from landfills and
incorporates LEED and Envision
equivalent standards
for environmentally-friendly
infrastructure design, advancing
the Port Authority’s
commitment to reducing
emissions and leading
the transportation sector towards
a low-carbon and more
sustainable future.
As the Port Authority delivers
on both large-scale infrastructure
projects like
airport redevelopments and
performs critical routine
maintenance at bridges and
tunnels, the Clean Construction
Program, building on the
agency’s guidelines for sustainable
design for buildings
and infrastructure, will reduce
“embodied carbon” (the
carbon emissions generated
from the manufacturing and
transportation of construction
materials and on-site construction
activity), promote
the circular economy (reusing
materials to increase their
lifespans), and reduce air
pollution from construction
across all facilities through
six specific initiatives:
Incorporation of LEED
and Envision-equivalent
standards during infrastructure
design
Specification for low carbon
concrete: reduces the required
cement content in certain
concrete mixes by 25%,
significantly reducing its
carbon intensity and allowing
for lower-carbon alternatives
Pilot projects to develop
low carbon concrete and materials
Requirement for Environmental
Product Declaration:
enables systematic collection
of environmental data directly
from construction contractors
to help inform more
environmentally focused material
selection
Waste matching for concrete,
asphalt and soil: creates
a platform for waste
matching across Port Authority
construction sites to
reduce waste sent to landfills
and the truck trips required
to bring materials to and
from construction sites
Requirement for low emissions
vehicles on-site: specifies
that large diesel construction
equipment must be
Tier 4 or newer to ensure the
cleanest models available are
used for agency projects
The requirements outlined
in the Clean Construction
Program will apply to
all new projects, and many
are already being embedded
into ongoing work, including
the LaGuardia Airport and
Newark Airport Terminal
One redevelopments.
At LaGuardia Airport,
nearly 22,000 tons of concrete
was recycled from the demolition
of the original Terminal
B parking structure and
approximately 2,475 tons of
this recycled concrete were
reused on the adjacent job
site. Truck travel during demolition
of the old airport
has been reduced by 250,000
miles, the equivalent of 10
trips around the world, due
to the creation of a concrete
recycling facility on site.
As part of the ongoing
construction for the Terminal
One Redevelopment Program
at Newark Liberty International
Airport, over
30,820 tons of asphalt, 101,511
tons of concrete, and 61,597
tons of soil have already been
recycled for the construction
of the new Terminal
One, Bridge N60 Frontage
Road Bridge and Pedestrian
Bridge, connecting pedestrians
to the new terminal’s departures
level.
“As one of the key economic
drivers in the region,
we continue to make smart
investments to reduce our
carbon footprint and promote
sustainable practices
across the region,” said Port
Authority Chairman Kevin
O’Toole. “We are leading
the way toward a more sustainable
future because now
more than ever we must all
be committed to protecting
our environment.”
Port Authority Executive
Director Rick Cotton said,
.“As the first transportation
agency to sign on to the climate
accords, our Clean Construction
Program will set
new standards in the region
and the world for sustainable
building practices through
measures that reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, conserve
energy and improve
air quality in our host communities.”