MEMPHIS, Tenn. December 14, 2021 – One year ago today, FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, delivered the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines to dosing centers in the United States. The day marked a turning point in global efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic as transportation companies like FedEx, healthcare companies, and federal and state officials coordinated the first shipments to begin vaccinating communities across the U.S.
Since its first shipments amid the unprecedented holiday season last year, FedEx has delivered approximately 300 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in the U.S., roughly half of the total vaccines distributed by the federal government, as well as ancillary kits to facilities throughout all 50 states and territories. FedEx is also transporting the newly authorized pediatric vaccine and supporting growing global vaccine distribution efforts. The company will continue to deliver vaccines throughout another busy holiday season, in which FedEx expects to deliver 100 million more packages than the company delivered during the 2019 holiday season.
“We are immensely proud of the role we’ve played in helping deliver lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines throughout the U.S. and around the world,” said Raj Subramaniam, President and COO of FedEx Corporation. “With a network designed for time-definite express transportation, custom critical shipping, and customs brokerage, FedEx continues to work closely with governments, healthcare customers, and administration sites to help ensure vaccines and related supplies move where and when needed. Over the last year, we’ve expanded our transportation of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 50 countries and territories around the world. We’re committed to helping end this pandemic and to building a better future for all.”
Shipments of COVID-19 vaccines and critical medical supplies are picked up from the manufacturers and distributors and delivered to dosing centers for administration in communities across the United States, with an average transit time through the FedEx network of less than 20 hours. Network capabilities also enable the movement of sensitive shipments such as active pharmaceutical ingredients and therapeutics that play an important role in the fight against COVID-19.
Before the pandemic, FedEx developed innovative technologies and expanded its cold chain facilities, which support vaccine shipments and other healthcare business. In the U.S., FedEx SenseAware ID, a Bluetooth low-energy sensor device attached to each vaccine and ancillary kit shipments, ensures these time-sensitive deliveries move swiftly and safely through the FedEx Express network with FedEx First Overnight service. From origin to destination, dedicated FedEx Priority Alert customer support agents are using SenseAware monitoring technology to track the location of vaccine shipments in near real-time. This technology is complemented by the FedEx Surround platform, which leverages artificial intelligence and predictive tools to proactively monitor conditions surrounding the packages, allowing customer support agents to intervene if weather or traffic delays threaten to impede delivery times.
“At FedEx, our global network connects more than 220 countries and territories,” said Don Colleran, president and CEO for FedEx Express. “FedEx has temperature-controlled solutions, real-time monitoring capabilities, and a dedicated healthcare team to support the express transportation of biomedical and other vital shipments across the world. I’m immensely proud of the tireless dedication and superb execution from our team members around the globe, who are moving the world forward with each delivery we make.”
COVID-19 Relief
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, FedEx has delivered approximately 14,000 COVID-19 related humanitarian relief shipments.
- FedEx has committed millions of dollars in cash and in-kind transportation support to several nonprofits serving communities in the U.S. and around the world, including Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, and Heart to Heart International.
- The company has also remained committed to delivering disaster relief to natural disaster victims impacted by events like recent flooding in Henan Province, China, and Maharashtra, India, as well as the earthquake in Haiti.