As the world waits for a COVID-19 vaccine, the SM Cargo team working with United Airlines in Houston is on the forefront of delivery. In December, the SM Cargo team helped transfer a 644-pound shipment of the Pfizer vaccine, packed in dry ice, from a plane that arrived in Houston from Los Angeles and transferred it to a flight bound for Sao Paolo, Brazil. This was the first of weekly shipments of the vaccine that the SM Cargo team will handle.
The size of the package correlates with at least 1000 doses. The SM Cargo team, in addition to transferring the package between aircraft, was tasked with ensuring that it remained within the proper temperature standards to stay viable and was loaded safely onto its next aircraft.
“It’s truly an honor to be involved in the distribution of the vaccine,” said Jerry Wimer, senior vice president and general manager of Staff Management | SMX and SM Cargo. “It takes a precise eye and strict adherence to protocols to ensure that the shipments stay viable, but our team is up to the task and will continue to embrace the opportunity to help deliver the COVID-19 vaccine across the country and across the world.”
Media reports indicate that United Airlines was the first commercial airline in the US to transport the vaccine.
