Airline Conducts Flights To Test Vaccine Shipping Process

Though the COVID-19 vaccine is still seeking FDA approval the next steps are starting to be taken. Airlines are testing out how well the vaccine would do while flying to different destinations.

American Airlines is one of the first to test it out.

This is to see how the vaccine will do while in extreme temperatures, according to ABC News.

The airline has been conducting flights from Miami to South America to start with. This included testing out the thermal packaging the vaccines will have to be transported in.

The vaccines were moved successfully, the CEO of American Airlines stated, but didn’t explain which company’s vaccines it was.

American Airlines told ABC News that it has a “network of team members that specialize in temperature-critical shipments.” It also explained that it’s working with the Federal Aviation Administration when it comes to transporting shipments with dry ice.

The first companies to submit a request to the FDA to be included with this transportation trial run was Pfizer and BioNTech. Their version of the COVID-19 vaccine has to be kept at -94 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pfizer and BioNTech told ABC News that once their vaccines are approved, it would be ready to be distributed and transported just hours after.

United Airlines is also preparing to be able to transport the vaccine as well and started their trial run on Friday with Pfizer’s vaccine.