German COVID-19 Vaccine Flies First to the USA

United Airlines began charter flights on November 27, 2020, bringing Germany-based BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine candidate BNT162 to the USA. In a statement to The Hill, 'As a result of the historic pace of vaccine development through Operation Warp Speed and careful logistics planning, the Federal Aviation Administration is supporting the first mass air shipment of a vaccine.'

"The FAA established the 'FAA COVID-19 Vaccine Air Transport Team' in October to ensure safe, expeditious, and efficient transportation of vaccines. Several vaccines need continued cold temperatures during transport, which, in some circumstances, require dry ice, a hazardous material," the FAA statement added.