Vaccines destined for the Canadian North will
have travelled more than 10,000 kilometers to reach vaccination
centres
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - FedEx Express Canada,
a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), and Innomar Strategies,
announced today that the country's first operations to distribute
the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Canada on behalf of the Government of
Canada are underway. The first
shipment arrives at the FedEx Express Canada hub in
Toronto this afternoon. Part of
this initial shipment will continue onwards to the territories to
facilitate vaccine distribution in Canada's northern regions. The vaccine
roll-out will be facilitated by the vast FedEx Express Canada
network, utilizing the specialized, cold-chain storage and
packaging capabilities of Innomar Strategies, a part of
AmerisourceBergen and a leading patient support provider in the
Canadian specialty pharmaceutical market.
The arrival of the vaccine from Brussels, Belgium, occurred within 48-hours of
Health Canada's approval, a key logistical requirement from the
federal government. Meeting the deadline was made possible by
extensive collaboration with the government of Canada to move more vaccines from Europe into Canada. Additionally, the
delivery of COVID-19 vaccines requires coordination of numerous
teams including customs brokers, airports, ground transportation
crews and internal security teams working with provincial, and
federal law enforcement agencies, all during a time when lockdowns
and border closures are commonplace.
The delivery of the first Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is notable as
it will be the first vaccine to arrive in the Northwest Territories. The Canadian roll-out
comes shortly after the FedEx network started delivering both the
Pfizer-BioNTech and later the Moderna vaccines across the
U.S., beginning mid-December. FedEx is well-positioned to
handle COVID-19 vaccine shipments around the world with
temperature-control solutions, near real-time monitoring
capabilities, and a dedicated healthcare team to support the
express transportation of vaccines and bioscience shipments.
Innomar will safely and securely store the vaccines in its
GMP-compliant Canadian storage facilities across Canada. The
storage facilities—which are equipped to store complex
pharmaceutical products, including those with cold chain
requirements—are temperature-controlled and have a validated
monitoring system to protect the vaccine shipments. Before the
vaccines are shipped, teams will put them in packages that support
the temperature requirements specified by the manufacturer.
These temperature-sensitive vaccines will move quickly through
the FedEx Express Canada network with consistent reporting on the
condition of the vaccine, thanks to FedEx SenseAware technology
packed along with the shipment. Through the SenseAware device,
dedicated agents are able to monitor critical data including
temperature, location and light exposure to help ensure the
integrity and security of the vaccines, and allow teams to be
fully prepared when the shipment arrives.
"The mandate given to us by the government of Canada to support the distribution of vaccines
across Canada is, without a doubt,
one of the most important efforts in our company's history. We
are proud and humbled to be able to lend our network and expertise
to help bring an end to the pandemic which has affected both the
lives and livelihoods of our fellow Canadians," said Lisa Lisson, president, FedEx Express Canada.
"Delivering critical COVID-19 vaccines is more than an important
assignment for the thousands of FedEx team members making this a
reality – it's who we are and what we do."
"As health care providers nationwide prepare to administer the
initial wave of COVID-19 vaccines, we are focused on providing the
logistics support needed to help ensure residents in all corners of
Canada have safe and timely access
to a vaccine—both now and in the months to come," said Guy Payette, president of Innomar Strategies.
"This initial shipment marks a significant milestone in the
country's efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team at
Innomar is prepared and ready to support the successful rollout of
this first shipment—and all subsequent COVID-19 vaccine shipments
that we receive over the next several months."
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides
customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of
transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual
revenue of $75 billion, the company
offers integrated business solutions through operating companies
competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating
digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked
among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx
inspires its nearly 600,000 team members to remain focused on
safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the
needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how
FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please
visit about.fedex.com.
About Innomar Strategies
Innomar Strategies, a part of
AmerisourceBergen, is the leading patient support provider in the
Canadian specialty biopharmaceutical market. We deliver end-to-end
commercialization solutions to improve product access, increase
supply chain efficiency and enhance patient care. Strategic
consulting, patient support programs, nursing, and clinical
services, and specialty pharmacy and logistics are just a few of
our key areas of specialization. We partner closely with
manufacturers, healthcare providers, pharmacies and payers to
ensure patients have consistent and reliable access to specialty
medication. With our integrated approach and commitment to
best-in-class care, Innomar Strategies helps navigate the patient
journey to optimize health outcomes. Visit us at
www.innomar-strategies.com.
About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen provides
pharmaceutical products, value-driving services and business
solutions that improve access to care. Tens of thousands of
healthcare providers, veterinary practices and livestock producers
trust us as their partner in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Global manufacturers depend on us for services that drive
commercial success for their products. Through our daily work—and
powered by our 22,000 associates—we are united in our
responsibility to create healthier futures. AmerisourceBergen is
ranked #10 on the Fortune 500, with more than $175 billion in annual revenue. The company is
headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa.
and has a presence in 50+ countries. Learn more at
amerisourcebergen.com.
FedEx SenseAware Technology
At FedEx, the information
about the package is as important as the package itself as it moves
through the network. FedEx SenseAware Mobile, a multi-sensor
device, will be included in these vaccine shipments, helping to
ensure these temperature-sensitive deliveries move swiftly and
safely through the FedEx Express Canada network. Dedicated FedEx
Priority Alert® customer support agents will use
SenseAware monitoring technology to track the location,
temperature, humidity and light exposure of vaccine shipments in
near real-time.
SOURCE Federal Express Canada Corporation