Pence, CDC head discuss distribution in Memphis
Samuel Hardiman, Max Garland and Ryan Poe
Once a vaccine receives emergency federal approval, vaccinations could begin within 48 hours, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday in Memphis.
“Help is on the way,” Pence said repeatedly during a roundtable discussion in an Air National Guard
hangar at Memphis International Airport. “We are just days away from being able to distribute a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine.”
During his brief stop in Memphis, Pence touted the swift development of vaccines and credited American ingenuity and Operation Warp Speed, the federal campaign started by President Donald Trump to develop and distribute a novel coronavirus vaccine to the nation. One vaccine, made by Pfizer, is likely days away from getting Food and Drug Administration emergency approval. Another, from Moderna, could soon follow.
“Only in America could you see the innovation that resulted in a vaccine in less than one year,” Pence said.
Once a vaccine receives FDA emergency authorization, it should be shipped within 24 hours, allowing vaccinations to begin within 24 hours after doses start arriving. In Tennessee, vaccinations will be administered in phases, with front-line health care workers receiving priority, followed by other health care workers and high-risk people.
The roundtable discussion prominently featured Memphis-based shipping giant Fedex, who had several trucks parked in the background. Fedex’s “cold chain” network — temperature-controlled shipping and storage — could play a critical role in transporting the vaccine. Joining Pence on the roundtable were Fedex founder, chairman and CEO Fred Smith; Fedex Express CEO Don Colleran; Fedex Chief Operations Officer Raj Subramaniam; and Fedex Regional Vice President Richard Smith, son of Fred Smith.
Also present was Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, along with several Tennessee officials: Gov. Bill Lee, Emergency Management Agency director Patrick Sheehan and Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland — a Democrat, although city elections are nonpartisan — was among those who greeted the vice president but wasn’t part of the panel.
During his comments, Redfield noted skepticism and polling about public concerns over vaccines, saying it’s “really sad as an infectious disease expert to see people leave vaccination on the shelf.” One of the challenges facing America is to create an environment where Americans are willing to take the vaccine, he said.
“We are going to aggressively provide a safe and efficacious vaccine to the American public in the weeks ahead,” Redfield said.
But, in the meantime, people should wear masks. “This actually works,” he said, holding up a face mask.
Like Redfield and Azar, Pence wore a mask until he was seated. Some others, including Fred Smith, put their mask on after they finished speaking. Shelby County has a mask mandate but federal and state property — which includes the hangar where the roundtable was held — are exempt.
Another participant, Wendy Long, CEO of the Tennessee Hospital Association, said the vaccine will be key to keeping health care workers on the job and out of quarantine as the state, like much of the nation, continues setting new hospitalization records.
“Vaccination is the key to reducing the stress on our hospital system and reviving our economy,” Long said.
Fedex founder and CEO Fred Smith praised Pence and Operation Warp Speed: ”The nation owes you and the task force a great debt of gratitude,” he said.
The vice president was in Memphis a total of 2 hours and 13 minutes, from when Air Force Two landed at 1:05 p.m. to when it left at 3:18 p.m.
Fedex could play important role in distribution of COVID-19 vaccine
Once a vaccine is authorized, Memphis-based Fedex could take center stage in the nation’s large-scale distribution effort.
The shipping giant will help move
COVID-19 vaccine doses from manufacturers and distributors to injection sites. Fedex is on daily calls with major U.S. government agencies, manufacturers and distributors about the vaccine distribution effort, executive Richard Smith said previously.
The Fedex Express World Hub, based at the Memphis International Airport, is the company’s largest hub and primary sort facility. It is also home to the Fedex Cold Chain Center, which could provide temporary cold storage for COVID-19 vaccines in the event of unexpected delays.
Tennessee released revised plans for how it will distribute the vaccine Wednesday. It expects to receive about 56,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine shortly after it is approved. Those doses, with a small amount held in reserve, are intended for the first line of defense against COVID-19 and those most at risk — inpatient health care workers, firstresponders and patients and workers at long-term care facilities.
Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman.
Max Garland covers Fedex, logistics and health care for The Commercial Appeal. Reach him at max.garland@ commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2651 and on Twitter @Maxgarlandtypes.