Prime Fresh Handling joins the world in celebrating the big news this week, that the W.H.O. has endorsed the first-ever vaccine to prevent malaria. The deadliest of all infectious diseases on the planet, this long-awaited medicine brings with it the potential to save millions of lives – among them, tens of thousands of children each year under age 5 in Africa.
“To have a malaria vaccine that is safe, effective, and ready for distribution is ‘a historical event’.” That according to a New York Times report, quoting Dr. Pedro Alonso, director of the W.H.O.’s global malaria program.
And because Prime Fresh Handling (PFH) has a long history of shipping a multitude of pharmaceuticals all across the globe, we not only applaud this major development but we also stand ready to assist in the successful roll-out of this new life-saving vaccine if and when called upon to do so.
Intended specifically for children, the new vaccine, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, serves to stimulate the immune system of the very young to fight off Plasmodium falciparum, a deadly malaria pathogen that is most prevalent in Africa. Called Mosquirix, it is given in three doses between 5 and 17 months, and a fourth dose about 18 months later.
According to the WHO, Malaria kills over 1.2 million people annually. And in fact about 1,700 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. annually, mostly in returned travelers from high incidence regions such as sub-Saharan Africa where poorly maintained water and irrigation systems are key factors in the spread of malaria.
Pharmaceutical Shipping Experts
PFH is no stranger to working with world organizations, government agencies, and medical service providers in their efforts to distribute time-critical medicines, biologics, and medical supplies around the world. By overseeing the global transport of such vital products at every point along the cold supply chain, these public healthcare entities are able to fight the good fight, safely and swiftly – and not just against COVID-19, but other life-threatening diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.
One example is a recent operation on behalf of the W.H.O. during which the company was in fact called upon to ship 200 vials of highly sensitive diphtheria and tetanus vaccines; and 3,000 vials of live oral polio vaccine from Jakarta all the way to the Ministry of Health in Belize City. Mission accomplished – just in time for a quick shipment to immediately pick up, transfer, and air transport a similar set of vaccines to Asuncion, Paraguay.
Best Way to Beat the Clock
The 24-7 team of customer service and operations agents at Prime Fresh Handling and sister company Prime Logistics are experts at finding the best way to beat the clock, safely and reliably, of course. Because in many cases, door-to-door service to every corner of the world needs to happen within 48 hours.
But it’s not just time, it’s also about temperature consistency. Vaccines and biologics, in particular, must stay within specific temperature ranges every step of the way – during transit, while in storage, and right up to the point of arrival. Such attention to detail ensures these products maintain their efficacy. Otherwise, they are unusable.
They also make it their job to keep abreast of the industry’s complex and ever-changing shipping regulations and standards for the proper transport of pharmaceuticals.
Global Services
Whether it’s a box, a pallet, or a companywide logistics operation, PFH is highly skilled in achieving safe on-time delivery of temperature-sensitive material and products between any point of origin and destination around the globe.
In fact, PFH is also known as a global leader in perishables transportation of fresh produce, fish, cut flowers, and plants. With state-of-the-art facilities in Europe, South American, and across North America, PFH leverages industry-leading technologies such as vacuum cooling, sorting, re-packing, barcoding, labeling, and temperature monitoring to guarantee a consistent, safe, and fresh delivery.
Contact Information
For information, contact PFH General Manager-West Coast Cristina Moscoso at 323-328-8650, via email at cristina.moscoso@primeair.aero, or visit www.primefresh.com.
Additional Readings:
Why Do Vaccines Need to be Cold?
Steadfast and Successful in its Role Moving COVID Tests Around the Globe
Prime Fresh Handling Works with Pharmaceutical Customers to Help People
