UPS recently conducted its first Covid-19 vaccine delivery via drone, utilizing cold chain packaging developed specifically for drones.

In a statement, it said this is the first Covid-19 vaccine drone delivery in the US to the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

UPS noted that its drone airline received a first-of-kind approval from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to carry alkaline and lithium batteries, which are needed to power temperature monitoring devices required by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for Covid-19 vaccine transport. 

“This program paves the way for drones to become a meaningful link within highly-specialized cold chain logistics,” said Dan Gagnon, vice president of global marketing for UPS Healthcare.

UPS said it worked with Cold Chain Technologies to design a custom, drone-sized solution to maintain temperature control at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

“Not only are UPS Flight Forward and Cold Chain Technologies demonstrating a more sustainable way to open vaccine access to remote communities, but the implications extend far beyond Covid-19,” Dan added.

“This new cold chain drone capability is a proof point of opportunity for all our healthcare customers, including clinical trial shipments, cold chain pharmaceuticals and other temperature-sensitive biologics.”

Like other COVID-19 vaccine shipments handled by UPS, these drone deliveries include a temperature monitoring device required by the CDC. 

It said the autonomous, battery-powered drones produce zero operational emissions and are subjected to less vibration than packages moving by ground transport. They require less insulation and can utilize gel packs instead of dry ice since they spend less time in transit.

Drones have already been carrying specialty infusion medicines and lab specimens for over a year at the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.

Meanwhile, UPS said this program is the second Covid-19 vaccine drone delivery operation globally, following drone deliveries in Ghana in Africa supported by a public-private partnership between The UPS Foundation, UPS Flight Forward, Zipline and Gavi.