UPS, together with its health and humanitarian partners, is helping ensure the equitable worldwide delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, beginning with 20 million doses for countries with insufficient access.

“We believe we have the ability – and responsibility – to facilitate and accelerate equitable COVID-19 vaccine delivery around the world,” said Scott Price, President UPS International. “UPS continues to build and inspire action across a network of global public-private partnerships that will ensure vaccines move more efficiently and equitably. Our work focuses on countries with limited resources and constrained supply chains and infrastructures. The goal is simple and our commitment is unwavering – moving our world forward by delivering what matters.”

At the current vaccination rate, some studies estimate it will take more than five years to cover 75% of the global population with a two-dose vaccine. In many areas, even top priority groups like healthcare workers don’t yet have access to the vaccine.

Along with grants from The UPS Foundation, UPS Healthcare has committed to:

• Provide logistics expertise to vaccine manufacturers and NGO partners to manage and streamline deliveries.
• Provide cold-chain transportation services.
• Donate ultra-low temperature freezer capacity needed to maintain vaccine viability.

Initial contributions from The UPS Foundation amount to more than $3 million and include a $2 million grant directed to Gavi, the global vaccine organization managing COVAX. Together with a match committed to by Gavi, the initial funding from UPS and Gavi amounts to $5 million.

“With supply limited for the foreseeable future, COVID-19 vaccines are arguably the world’s most precious commodity this year,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi. “With every dose being so important, it is critical to ensure that our partner countries have the necessary support and tools to deliver vaccines effectively and efficiently to those who need them. This new support builds on the long-standing partnership between Gavi and the UPS Foundation, which is focused on ensuring that every child in Gavi-supported countries receives lifesaving vaccines.”

The UPS Foundation is continuing to provide support for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that fights global poverty and provides lifesaving assistance in emergencies, through its Fast + Fair initiative. The initiative is focused on equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to at-risk groups including healthcare workers, caregivers and refugees in 11 countries in need.*

“We are interdependent as a global community -- no one is safe until everyone is safe,” said Nikki Clifton, President of The UPS Foundation. “Now is the time to link our arms around the world. Now is the time to deliver vaccines – and hope – to everyone, regardless of wealth or location.”

Collectively, these public-private efforts, such as the one in Ghana, are designed to ensure COVID-19 vaccines begin flowing quickly to countries in dire need. Through UPS and partner support, more than 10 million people in countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and South America will receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the first wave of vaccine distribution.

*Countries include: Bangladesh, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Pakistan, the Philippines and Uganda.