A vaccine rollout that has coped with the urgency of a global pandemic

Since the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was approved for use in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 30 December 2020, Yusen Logistics has supported AstraZeneca in distributing the Covid-19 vaccine throughout its global GDP compliant network to every region of the world, for fair allocation and distribution by governments and multilateral organisations.

“Effective communication is key to ensuring seamless supply and both AstraZeneca planners and Yusen Logistics supply chain experts liaise regularly around the clock coordinating the movements of the vaccine throughout Europe and beyond,” said James Colson, Yusen Logistics Global Key Account Director for AstraZeneca. “It is a testament to both organisations that we have managed to overcome all challenges with viable, robust and compliant solutions.”

The teams at AstraZeneca and Yusen Logistics work in real partnership to deliver continued process improvements. ‘’We’re extremely proud of our expertise and achievements and are honoured to contribute to this global vaccine rollout,” added Colson.

The vaccine is manufactured in AstraZeneca’s global supply network spanning 15 countries and 25 different manufacturing sites.  EU supply and transportation is managed by Yusen’s European Control Tower and shipped from Yusen’s healthcare hub in Benelux fulfilling regional, global and COVAX demand.

“AstraZeneca rapidly conducted due diligence with numerous partners to build a global supply to help meet demand for the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Tony Shore, Freight & Supplier Director of AstraZeneca. “Yusen Logistics has been instrumental in delivering the vaccine to the required destinations across the globe.”