LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Now that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), UPS is set to support nationwide distribution efforts.


What You Need To Know

  • The FDA has approved Pfizer's and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use

  • Shipments will move through UPS Worldport on Sunday

  • Vaccines are coming from storage facilities in Michigan and Wisconsin

  • First shipments will go to hospitals, designated for frontline health care workers

The first vaccine shipment will move through Louisville's UPS Worldport on Sunday, according to UPS Public Relations Manager Jim Mayer.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first to be approved and deployed in the U.S. after a worldwide race to develop safe, effective vaccines to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

UPS CEO Carol Tomé said the company is fully equipped to assist with the crucial chain of distribution.

“Vaccine distribution is a key part of moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” says Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS. “We have dedicated and hardworking people around the world who have been trained to store, handle, transport and deliver vaccines. We’re pleased to support our healthcare partners with smart, efficient logistics for these vaccines that will protect communities and save lives.”

UPS will move the vaccine within days to states designated by Pfizer, Inc. based on orders received by Operation Warp Speed and CDC officials.

“This is the moment of truth we’ve been waiting for at UPS,” said Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Healthcare. “We have spent months strategizing with Operation Warp Speed officials and our healthcare customers on efficient vaccine logistics, and the time has arrived to put the plan into action.”

So what do the logistics look like? Mayer said the vaccines will originate from storage facilites in Michigan and Wisconsin. After being transported to Louisville's Worldport, they will be expedited via Next Day Air to hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities.

Mike McDermott, president of Pfizer Global Supply, said the development, approval, and deployment of the vaccine is a historic feat.

“We know that agile, world-class logistics is critical to get our products where they are needed, and we’re happy to partner with UPS in this historic effort to save lives and create healthier communities right now and well into the future," McDermott said.

Bryce Shreve is a digital producer with Spectrum News 1 KY. He is a recent graduate of Indiana University Southeast and joined the staff in November, 2020.