DHL Global Forwarding partners with Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics in Africa, Asia
DHL Global Forwarding has partnered with Longhorn Vaccines
- DHL has transported nearly 26,000 Covid -19 testing vials for Longhorn,
- Vials were transported via three initial flights from Indianapolis to Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines.
February 25, 2021: DHL Global Forwarding has partnered with Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics, an innovative molecular tool, assay and vaccine development company focused on serving unmet critical needs in both developed and developing nations, to deliver much-needed Covid-19 testing vials to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kenya, Nepal and the Philippines.
Longhorn is donating one million tubes of its PrimeStore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) in an effort to increase the safety and efficacy of Covid-19 testing of refugees and displaced persons in the three countries. In the face of the unprecedented global health crisis, DHL Global Forwarding has tapped its global network of experienced life sciences and healthcare (LSH) logistics specialists to transport nearly 26,000 vials of Longhorn’s PrimeStore MTM thus far.
“With more than two decades of experience working with the LSH sector, DHL Global Forwarding has built up the logistics expertise and global infrastructure, including certified facilities, that are integral to the LSH supply chain,” said Kelvin Leung, CEO, DHL Global Forwarding Asia Pacific.
The pandemic has caused increased challenges in the intricate deliveries of temperature controlled shipments, including stricter controls at international borders, the absence of airfreight capacity, and high demand for medical supplies around the world. For this reason, Longhorn chose DHL Global Forwarding, which has specialists, worldwide network of terminals, warehouses and offices, and technological infrastructure, remains able to effectively maintain supply chains.
Jeff Fischer, president of Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics, said, “PrimeStore MTM inactivates SARS-CoV-2 during collection and transit, which can reduce the need for safety cabinets and reduce the time between collection and results. With the need to ship to different countries on multiple continents and traverse to varied customs requirements, DHL was the clear choice given the importance of reliable transportation in the testing process.”
The IOM is an inter-governmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration, with 173 member states, nine states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries.