DGCA issues guidelines for transportation of COVID-19 vaccine by air

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued guidelines for the packaging and transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine by air. The guidelines direct airlines and airport authorities to ensure that vaccines are packaged in ry ice and refrigerated material to maintain low temperature ranging between -8 degrees Celsius to -70 degrees Celsius essential for its transportation. The guidelines clearly state that the preferred mode of transport for the COVID-19 vaccine would be air considering the urgency at which it is required.

The DGCA has highlighted the importance of the carriage of vaccine from the place of manufacture to the place of administration considering ‘the high expectations of the government(s), health care personnel and the general public’.
As per the guidelines, all scheduled operators that have currently been authorised to carry dangerous goods can transport the COVID-19 vaccine. Those that are not scheduled including operators in general aviation, need to seek specific approval before commencing the operations.
The DGCA also said all operators while engaging in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines packed with dry ice shall establish the maximum quantity of dry ice that can be loaded in a given cargo hold and/or compartment or in the main deck (passenger cabin) when a passenger version aircraft is deployed for all cargo operations.
“This maximum quantity shall be based on the aircraft manufacturers’ information on maximum recommended dry ice quantities that the aircraft ventilation can support, depending on the sublimation rate and also the requirement of the operators’ Safety Management Systems,” it noted.