Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA), in cooperation with Yusen Logistics Co., Ltd., have transported AstraZeneca vaccines for Covid-19 from Japan to Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines.

In a statement, ANA said the vaccines were provided by the Japanese government to the respective countries as part of the comprehensive strategies to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

"The transportation of vaccines presents a number of logistical challenges, requiring ANA to leverage its full range of expertise and experience gained at the forefront of cargo transportation," it said.

Despite the challenges, it noted that ANA has made the deliveries citing its track record in the delivery of pharmaceutical goods, and has established a reliable and efficient operational structure for the global delivery of vaccines and other crucial medical supplies.

ANA has been certified by IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) since 2017, the first Japanese airline to receive it.