What’s the story: A UPS team delivered more than 78 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses, helping Korea top its vaccination goals, and reaching even the most remote areas of the country.
Against all odds: When Korea began the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in February 2021, some weren’t sure if meeting the country’s ambitious goal – fully vaccinating 70% of its people by the end of October that year – was doable.
The challenge: Government officials knew they needed a trusted partner with the right skills to deliver the vaccines. The team would need to manage:
- tracking temperature-controlled packages
- a hotter-than-average summer
- supply chain disruptions
- hard-to-reach locations
- expectations from an anxious public
Turning to UPS: A small team, led by UPS Korea Country Sales Manager James Kim, was up for the challenge.
“There was a lot to think about and a lot of pressure to get it right from the start,” James said. “We felt that our country was depending on us.”
How they did it: UPS used advanced tracking devices to keep an eye on special cold storage shipments. The precise visibility allowed the government and health authorities to plan confidently.
But the tracking and cold storage technology was just part of the solution. Their success hinged on a team of professionals who knew how to handle cross-border shipments and deliveries to remote areas.
Reaching remote communities: To date, UPS Korea has a perfect record delivering Pfizer vaccines. This means never breaking an ultra-cold chain, even when delivering to hard-to-reach locations like Ulleung Island, 75 miles east of the Korean Peninsula.
“At UPS, we believe in the equitable delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to all parts of the world,” said James.
Go deeper: UPS has delivered well over a billion vaccine doses around the world. Go behind the scenes to hear what it’s meant to the UPSers who’ve had a hand in this important work.
Find out about other progress toward equitable distribution in the related stories below. And be on the lookout for more on how we’re delivering hope as we move our world forward by delivering what matters.