Around this time last year, the notion of a coronavirus vaccine was hardly fathomable.
Now, vaccines are literally flying into the hands of Americans via drone delivery, Reuters reports.
North American aircraft manufacturing company Draganfly is developing a vaccine-distribution scheme involving drones, with each able to carry at least 100 single doses.
Draganfly was vetted for the job by Coldchain Technology Services, which specializes in the logistics of refrigerated medical product distribution, for the crucial operation.
“It is very exciting that COVID-19 vaccinations are starting to be distributed,” said Coldchain executive director Wayne Williams in a statement. “Draganfly will help us solve the problem [that] is the timely and precise distribution of the vaccine in hard-to-reach areas.”
Previously, Coldchain has worked with the US military, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Johnson & Johnson brands, among other leading health agencies, to establish the most efficient means of COVID-19 vaccine deployment.
Aside from their delivery ventures, Draganfly also recently launched a “touchless health measurement” system. Designed for use in busy public spaces such as hotels, shopping malls, offices and warehouses, the module uses cameras to take people’s temperatures and other vitals like heart rates, and to monitor that people are keeping 6 feet apart.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Draganfly has been committed to providing solutions to help prevent the spread of the virus, including our Vital Intelligence systems that can measure vital signs from a camera including your smartphone,” said Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell.
Drone delivery has long been the goal for shippers, particularly among online retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, both of which have recently piloted delivery programs using drones.
In December, the Federal Aviation Administration finally issued critical rulings to make way for future aerial delivery operations.
“The new rules … get us closer to the day when we will more routinely see drone operations such as the delivery of packages,” said FAA administrator Steve Dickson in a statement last month.