DHL Express said it delivered the United States government’s donation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to Malaysia.

The arrival of around one million doses comes as part of a recent commitment by the US to assist with recovery efforts worldwide.

The logistics giant said the shipment was made possible via the COVAX global vaccine sharing programme that aims to accelerate global equitable access to immunisation against the pandemic. 

"We are deeply honoured by the trust that our customers have placed in us and I'm incredibly proud that the team has yet again stepped up to successfully deliver another batch of COVID-19 vaccines to Malaysia," said  said Ken Lee, CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific. 

"As DHL Express continues to leverage our global network and strong medical logistics expertise to ensure that these life-saving vaccines arrive safely and promptly, we must also remind ourselves of the need for collaboration amongst various parties and countries to manage this public health crisis effectively," he added.

DHL Express arranged for the collection of the vaccines from facilities in the US before it was airlifted from our Cincinnati Hub to the DHL Express Subang Gateway, where it would be distributed to designated locations in Kuala Lumpur.

From door-to-door, the journey spanned only four days in complete compliance with stringent handling and storage requirements. 

Julian Neo, managing director of DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei said to date, DHL has transported more than 300 million doses of approved vaccines worldwide, five million of which were to Malaysia.

"The shipment marks another milestone in combatting the spread of COVID-19 and contributing to the country’s recovery. In keeping with our mandate of connecting people and improving lives," he added.

DHL said more than 9,000 life sciences and healthcare specialists work across its dedicated global network so that pharmaceutical, medical devices, clinical trials and research organisations, wholesalers and distributors, as well as hospitals and healthcare providers connected across the value chain.