First-ever World Immunisation and Logistics Summit concludes

• Government ministers from the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UK, Nigeria, and Kenya, came together to discuss how the world can bridge the geographical gap in vaccine distribution
• The Chair of the Executive Board at WHO, Group Medical Director of International SOS, Director-General of the Red Cross, Regional Director of IATA in Africa and Middle East, and representatives of the African Union joined discussions on the global healthcare system’s responsiveness to the pandemic

Abu Dhabi’s HOPE Consortium and world-leading experts marked the end of The World Immunisation and Logistics Summit today by pledging to close the global immunisation gap. Through a series of key discussions with global healthcare professionals, philanthropists, decision makers and senior government officials, the consensus was formed that innovation, ingenuity and inclusiveness are key to finding a global solution to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring equitable access to vaccines for all. 

Department of Health – Abu Dhabi Chairman Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed delivered the opening address titled ‘Innovation, ingenuity and inclusiveness: Finding the human solution to a global challenge’. He spoke of the pace at which countries and communities had collaborated since the pandemic began. “In 2020 and so far this year, the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to be one of the largest and most complex global challenges in modern times. It’s incredible how the world has come together to tackle this issue that transcends communities, borders and continents. There are incredible technology and scientific advancements that have been developed as a result of the pandemic. Under one unified goal, countries around the world are working tirelessly to find solutions,” he said.

Speaking of the achievements of Abu Dhabi and the HOPE Consortium to date, Abdullah explained: “We strongly believe no one can do this alone. Together, we have a capacity to handle over six billion doses of the vaccine this year, and we are already increasing this to deliver over 18 billion vaccine doses by the end of 2021, with the capacity to deliver this anywhere in the world. We believe the HOPE Consortium is a catalyst for even greater collaboration with partners worldwide. No one is out of this pandemic until everyone is out of this pandemic,” he concluded. 

Over 4,000 senior decision makers, government officials, industry stakeholders, NGOs, and leading academics registered to attend the Summit. It provided an open forum for global players to discuss the logistical challenges associated with vaccine transport and distribution with the aim of finding solutions to achieve mass and equitable worldwide vaccine access. 

The HOPE Consortium is a public-private partnership that has developed into a leading international effort, broadening its global transport and delivery capabilities by attracting new partners including Agility, Aramex, Bolloré Logistics, CEVA Logistics, DB Schenker, DHL, FedEx Express, Expeditors, Hellmann, Kuehne + Nagel, MICCO Logistics, RSA Global, and UPS.