february2021 - 30

INTERNATIONAL

aircraft, " he says. " We are the first cargo handler to operate cool dollies at Singapore Changi
Airport and will soon launch this state-ofthe-art equipment in Sydney and Melbourne,
too, offering customers excellent value services
throughout the handling process. "

Procedures and Guidance

advance of the aircraft's arrival. It is vital that
potential logistical bottlenecks are identified
early in the process, " UAS officials explain.
Goovaerts observes that it is particularly
important to ensure that the vaccine is handled and stored in a temperature-controlled
environment throughout the handling
process.
" Our state-of-the-art equipment and
facilities enable us to offer uncompromised
temperature-controlled handling and storage
solution to airline customers in Singapore, " he
says. " Providing temperature-controlled storage from -25°C up to +25°C, the cool dollies
mitigate the risk of temperature deviations and
contamination. They have a closed structure
with alarms on opening and closing, as well as
alerts if temperatures fluctuate above acceptable ranges. As they are fitted with solar panels, the cool dollies are both environmentally
friendly and autonomous. The units are also
hygienic and easy to clean, which is a crucial
consideration for pharma cargo. "
dnata's cargo handling facilities in Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney have temperaPhoto courtesy of dnata

UAS officials observe that cargo handlers
should follow the manufacturers' guidance
when handling vaccines, in addition to other
suggestions provided by local authorities in
charge of the immunizations as they can
advise on specific governmental guidance,
restrictions and requirements.
" Based on this information, standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be created to
cover all aspects of vaccine management and
include routine and emergency response procedures for equipment malfunction, weather
issues and power outages. The SOPs should
be reviewed at least annually and whenever a
new vaccine is introduced, " say UAS officials.
" Prior to aircraft arrival, allocated members of
staff should liaise with the receiving party for

specific coordination and handling guidance.
This is particularly important for a vaccine
that has not been handled before. Every vaccine requires different temperature configurations, and this entails the use of containers
specially constructed for this purpose.
" Once on the ground, every effort must be
made to ensure this temperature is maintained
until the vaccine is delivered into the hands
of medical professionals at its destination, so
cold storage will require adequate temperature-monitoring equipment be calibrated and
available, " they continue. " The CDC recommends using a continuous monitoring digital
data logger (DDL) for each unit and have a
backup DDL unit as well. "
Well thought-out procedures for inventory
management must also be in place. Effective
and clear communication will also play a
large role.
" The handling staff will need to pre-coordinate the turnover of the vaccines with the
receiving party and ensure the proper authorities have advised and the customs clearance
process has been identified and prepared for in

30 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE

FEBRUARY 2021

february2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of february2021