Air corridor deal between Dubai and India to boost vaccine distribution

Dubai Airports and the operator of Hyderabad airport, GMR Hyderabad, have agreed a logistics deal for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to handle up to 300 tonnes of vaccines per day, the companies said on Monday.

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The vaccine corridor between Dubai and Hyderabad connects leading vaccine manufacturers in India with markets around the world through the Dubai International Airport cargo hub.

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“A major surge in demand for the efficient, safe and reliable global distribution of high volumes of COVID-19 vaccines is expected in the coming months,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports speaking to the media. (File photo: AP)

“We wanted to be ready to respond to and accommodate that demand.”

Read more: Coronavirus: India tests vaccine delivery system with nationwide trial

Hyderabad is the world’s emerging vaccine capital, with five major vaccine producers in the vicinity.

India, which has the second-highest number of coronavirus infections in the world, on Sunday approved two coronavirus vaccines for emergency use –- one developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, the other by local company Bharat Biotech.

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