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DGCA Issues Guidelines To Airlines On Transportation Of COVID-19 Vaccines Packed In Dry Ice

Operators should take all necessary steps to ensure that the flight crew is not harmed by carbon dioxide incapacitation or intoxication, said Directorate General of Civil Aviation

DGCA Issues Guidelines To Airlines On Transportation Of COVID-19 Vaccines Packed In Dry Ice
Highlights
  • Adequate carbon dioxide detectors should be present in the cabin: DGCA
  • The country is preparing for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines
  • Covishield and Covaxin have been approved for emergency use in India

New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA on Friday (January 8) issued guidelines to all aircraft operators who plan to transport COVID-19 vaccines packed in dry ice to various parts of the country, outlining the necessary safety precautions and modalities. If vaccines packed in dry ice are being transported in the passenger cabin of an aircraft, then the flight crew should be properly trained on the hazards and risks of its transportation, it noted. Dry ice transforms into carbon dioxide gas at temperatures higher than minus 78 degrees Celsius under normal atmospheric pressure and, therefore, it is classified as “dangerous goods” by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it said.

Also Read: As India Gears Up To Kick-starts COVID-19 Vaccination Drive From January 16, Expert Explains When Will The Common Man Get The Vaccine

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said,

Adequate number of carbon dioxide detectors should be available in the cabin. Such detectors should be located at locations for timely and reliable detection of dangerous concentration of carbon dioxide. All operators while engaging in 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 or in the main deck (passenger cabin) when a passenger version is deployed for all cargo operations.

The country is preparing for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the second nationwide mock drill on the drive was conducted on Friday. India’s drugs regulator has approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country.

The temperature maintenance requirement for COVID-19 vaccines is reported to be varying from minus 8 degree Celsius to minus 70 degree Celsius and hence, the use of refrigerant material during the transportation becomes essential, the DGCA noted. Dry ice is most commonly used as a refrigerant material for transportation of perishables by air, it added.

If the aircraft operator is taking more dry ice in cargo hold than what is specified in the aircraft manufacturer’s manual, it needs to perform a risk assessment covering points such as potential pressure build up if gas is released from the package, analysis of ambient temperatures on ground, etc. The regulator said the aircraft operator will need to prepare a “Dos and Don’ts” guidance and circulate it among those personnel who would be handling the vaccines.

Also Read: India Will Be Able To Vaccinate Entire Population Against COVID-19 Soon, Says Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene

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