ANAC expands actions for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

In one more action aiming to combat and control of the Pandemic Covid-19, the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) approved, on January 12, changes in Resolution N. 600, allowing airline companies to transport vaccines refrigerated with dry ice in the passenger cabin of the aircraft, under specific conditions established by the Agency, such as the absence of passengers during transportation.

The measure comes in anticipation of the expected demand for domestic and international air transport of large quantities of vaccines for the actions foreseen in the National Operationalization Plan for the Covid-19 Vaccine.

Although vaccines are not classified as dangerous goods, they usually need to be transported at low temperatures. The ones developed to fight the new coronavirus, on the other hand, will be transported at even lower than average temperatures, with some vaccines needing temperatures as low as -70°C.

In order to maintain the temperature of the vaccines during transport, it may be necessary to cool them with dry ice, which is classified as dangerous goods and, therefore, must follow several requirements defined in regulations for its safe transport by air.

The conditions established by ANAC for the transportation of vaccines refrigerated with dry ice, both in the passenger cabin and in the cargo compartments, will be set forth in the Ordinance SPO N. 3967/2021, which will be published in the Federal Register, on January 14.

The procedures to be observed by air operators who transport Covid-19 vaccines are presented in the Guide “Procedures for the Transportation of Vaccines Containing Dry Ice”, which can be found at https://www.gov.br/anac/pt-br/coronavirus.

Companies certified to transport dangerous goods that have already obtained authorization to transport cargo in the passenger cabin will not need specific authorization to transport vaccines refrigerated with dry ice, as long as they observe the provisions of the mentioned regulations.

Supporting air transportation of Covid-19 vaccines

The use of air transportation in the distribution of vaccines and supplies for the Covid-19 vaccination campaign is strategic and necessary to ensure that all states receive the medication safely and efficiently. To make this transportation feasible, ANAC has made available to airlines, public agents, laboratories and others involved help with the necessary actions to turn vaccine transportation viable in the country.

The Agency's goal is to structure a set of actions, guidelines and measures to support processes that ensure the facilitation of air transport of vaccines, health supplies and products needed to enable vaccination campaigns.

Among the actions already adopted by the air transport sector, we highlight the support of Brazilian airlines in the elaboration of the distribution logistics of the vaccines against Covid-19. All companies made their efforts, fleets, airline networks, and teams available for the free transportation of the vaccine.

On January 14, the first flight of a Brazilian airline to transport the Covid-19 vaccines took off to India to pick up two million doses of the Astrazeneca/Oxford vaccine. The aircraft used was an Airbus A330neo from Azul Cargo.

Other measures taking place in the sector

Among the measures already adopted by ANAC to minimize the effects caused by the pandemic and that can help the transportation of vaccines, we highlight the special authorization for cargo transportation in the passenger cabin and the temporary release from the Seventh Freedom of the Air, which facilitates and debureaucratizes the cargo transportation between member countries of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC).