Coronavirus: Hope Consortium in Abu Dhabi to aid global fight against virus

The consortium was established last month to help tackle the logistical challenges of transporting vaccines around the world

A lab technician oversees the filling and package of vials for the large-scale production of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine candidate at the Italian manufacturing facility of Catalent in Anagni, southeast of Rome, September 11, 2020. AFP

The Oxford vaccine could be among the first to hit the market. Vincenzo Pinzo / AFP

A boy looks at Sinovac Biotech's vaccine candidate at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing. AFP

A technician looks at monkey kidney cells as he makes a test on an experimental vaccine for Covid-19 at Sinovac Biotech facilities in Beijing. AFP

A clinical research nurse prepares a Covid-19 vaccine to administer to a volunteer, at a clinic in London. AP

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra speaks to the press during a visit to the bio-medical department of the Cayetano Heredia National University in Lima, where studies for vaccines against coronavirus are being developed. AFP

Robyn Porteous, a vaccine trial volunteer, is injected as part of South Africa's human clinical trial at the Wits RHI Shandukani Research Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Reuters

A nurse inoculates volunteer Ilya Dubrovin, 36, with Russia's new coronavirus vaccine at a clinic in Moscow. AFP

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg (L) and Minister for Development Aid Dag Inge Ulstein (R) participate in a digital meeting with international leaders about a fair global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines at the the Prime Minister's office in Oslo on 10 September 2020. EPA

A medic works in a lab during clinical trials for a Covid-19 vaccine at Research Centres of America in Hollywood, Florida. Bloomberg

The UAE is to undertake a major drive to help the world overcome the pandemic.

The Hope Consortium, a logistics hub established last month in the UAE capital, has set out to deliver billions of crucial vaccines all over the globe by the end of next year.

The consortium will provide vaccine storage and distribution and transported five million doses already last month.

Most of the vaccines under development require very cold storage – posing a logistical challenge.

But the hub will ensure vaccines are stored at the correct temperature, sourced and distributed depending on demand, and correctly tracked.

The Hope Consortium aims to play an essential role in dealing with the key logistical challenges of ensuring vaccines are successfully delivered around the world.

The hub will ensure vaccines are stored at the correct temperature, sourced and distributed depending on demand, and correctly tracked.

Under plans announced last month, SkyCell, a Swiss company that develops temperature-controlled logistics containers for the pharmaceutical industry, was to establish a regional service and manufacturing centre in Abu Dhabi to aid distribution.

The containers maintain steady temperatures for an average of 202 hours (8.4 days) and self-recharge automatically in a cooling chamber or refrigerated lorry.

Digital technology infrastructure will be used to manage storage and distribution. Transport will be managed by Etihad Cargo and Abu Dhabi Ports Company.

This article has been updated based on new developments.