Since July 2021, the federal government has deployed over 4,000 military and non-military personnel including doctors, nurses, and paramedics; sent over 3,400 ventilators, ambulances, and other. Pratibha: When you go outside and see people who have worked hard all their lives and have never asked for anything, crying because they're starving, that is all the motivation you need to donate what you have. FedEx Ground hires thousands of employees with a wide range of experience across the U.S. and Canada. Making a difference and new friends in San Diego, Joe Simms, FedEx Office human resources advisor, loves helping people. December 14, 2021:One year ago today, FedEx Express delivered the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccines to dosing centers throughout the United States. The vaccine mandate excludes frontline . FedEx Cares. Opening the packages with my friends and sporting our new caps and Rhodes gear made the event exciting, and something I'll remember for many years after my time at Rhodes.". We strongly encourage team members to get vaccinated and continue to communicate on the importance and access to Covid-19 vaccines," Chris Allen, a FedEx Global spokesperson said in a. In 2018, FedEx shipped supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help fight Ebola. We believe the information about the package is as important as the package itself, as it moves through the network. In the past week, FedEx contracted with the U.S. government to streamline shipments from around the world, through an effort known as Project Airbridge. Our Cold Chain Center in Memphis, TN, with 20,000 square feet of temperature-controlled contingency storage has connectivity to every ZIP Code in the U.S. To the extent vaccine shipments may require the use of dry ice, FedEx Express is capable of safely handling those volumes. Industry groups are warning President Biden that his COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contractors will exacerbate the nation's supply chain issues, potentially leading to depleted shelves. Working with different government agencies from the onset, FedEx is now well versed in compliance with the regulations and rules for transportation of COVID-19 test samples., It all began with a text to Sam Smith, FedEx Government and Regulatory Affairs, from a former colleague who now works in the Administration.After further discussions between Gina Adams, Corporate Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs, and the Administration,an all-hands-on-deck operationwas activatedby FedEx Express team members in a matter of days to execute the transport of the first test samples from drive-thru test centers to labs for analysis., They asked if FedEx would be willing to step in, Smith recalls. The creative problem solving supporting these deliveries to the Caribbean is yet another example of the FedEx team in action on a mission to move the world forward by moving vaccine shipments worldwide. Im just so happy Im able to help my community. Since the outbreak of coronavirus, we have provided delivery of personal protective equipment and critical supplies to numerous organizations.. At the end of 2021 . The clinical providers active health care professionals, students from the University of Tennessee, retirees were all volunteering for 12-hour shifts to for the community. And of course it was before the COVID-19 pandemic caused college campuses to be closed and classes moved to online-only. The White House . Corporations Stop Short of Vaccine Mandates. We havent really done anything of this scale or magnitude, so we wanted to make sure we chose the right vehicle for the shipments, the correct packaging and put the correct procedures in place for any time we had to put hands on these boxes.. To help reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccines, we've committed millions in cash and in-kind transportation to support several nonprofits serving communities around the world. We are utilizing our SenseAware ID monitoring technology and our Priority Alert service to track vaccine shipments as they move through our FedEx Express network in the U.S.And we have dedicated customer support agents who are monitoring vaccine shipments, ready to intervene should issues such as weather, traffic congestion or customs clearance cause delay and threaten delivery times. We got some friends together and planned to distribute food packets along the road. Were used to handling direct shipments that have to be kept at certain temperatures, focusing on one customer at a time so there arent any distractions, said Sammy Garner. Now embedded as a liaison with the COVID-19 Rapid Response team at the Department of Health and Human Services, Knott looks back at that first week with clarity. And as for the Garners? Were very blessed., April 20, 2020: I can build one of those things myself.. President Joe Biden on Thursday imposed stringent new vaccine rules on federal workers, large employers and health care staff in a sweeping attempt to contain the latest surge of . Whether it is life-saving medical supplies, essentialbusiness items, or critical materials needed during shelter-in-place orders team FedEx is delivering. Unless you're a member of a Dutch Reformed church or a Christian Science church, making a claim for a religious exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine as a Christian is going to be hard to prove.. Its how we are helping the world move forward.. Global Operations Control Specialist with FedEx Express. That disruption in serviceprompted quick action by the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, who immediately took over the meal program to organize and distribute to those in need.. As the world evolves, so do we. The vaccine mandate for federal employees was enjoined last week by a federal judge in Texas. As part of her FedEx job responsibilities, Page helped coordinate three COVID-19 vaccination events for FedEx for team members in Memphis and is part of a team facilitating similar events in other states throughout the country with large team member populations. As of late last week, 9 states have enacted 11 laws with prohibitions on vaccine mandates (Arizona and Arkansas have each enacted two). Thats how husband and wifeduo Sammy and Martha Garner explain their work. Lenny says, Theres been nothing like this. I live in a house where I can afford three meals a day, but these people, they don't have anything. FedEx Ground is a low-cost shipping service that delivers to businesses and is faster to more locations than UPS Ground. As spring turned into summer, Davis and his team adjusted operations and scaled up to safely accommodate more shipments in the Texas heat. FedEx has helped us move our AR3 water purification systems from Istanbul to Adana to help provide access to clean drinking water to families affected by the earthquake. A trade group representing cargo airline companies is warning President Biden that vaccine mandates for workers could hurt operations ahead of the peak holiday season, saying it will be. Mike had handled the operation from early in the morning to the evening, so my job was really the easy part, said Oakley, who was the man behind the wheel. And very simply, we performed at or above any reasonable expectation of how that first week could go.. The response was very good from our friends and close family members. This is who we are and what we do best., March 27, 2020: In mid-March, as coronavirus testing began across much of the country, a nimble network of FedEx team memberssprunginto action to answer a call from the White House Task Force to transport COVID-19 test samples from test sites to labs for analysis., In less than 24 hours, FedEx designed pick-up and delivery operations to move more than 20,000 COVID-19 test samples from 50 test sites in a dozen states to labs in ten states for analysis. However, it was one that the company was built to accomplish, widespread distribution of vaccines and ancillary kits throughout the United States. The vaccines, donated by and delivered on behalf of Pfizer, are destined for a number of CARICOM members like Antigua, St. Kitts, and St. Vincent. FedEx is working with customers and non-profit organizations to deliver hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies and aid into India to aid in the fight against COVID-19. As science has evolved over the last four decades, so too have FedEx offerings for our healthcare customers. By the time . Saad Omer: In June 2020, colleagues and I published a paper with six criteria for a COVID-19 mandate based on science and ethics, including that mandates should be implemented only if the COVID-19 containment is not adequate and that evidence of the safety and efficacy of the vaccine has been transparently communicated. FedEx Airbus Fleet Captain and one of the pilots to fly out the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine last December. The application and background process took a few weeks and Simms was approved to start volunteering early February. They quickly built intubation box 2.0 that hasfewer pieces andiseasier to keep clean, and version 3.0 is in the works. Careful operational preparations, contingency planning, customs brokerage oversight, and real-time monitoring were essential. Over the course of the mission, Clark and her crew traveled from Memphis, Tenn. to Germany, handed the plane off to another crew who flew from Germany to Italy and back with supplies while she and her team rested, then Clark piloted the final flight back to the U.S. For us, the most important thing was the safe handling of the shipments and the safety of our people, Coburn said. Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital, consistently ranked among the best pediatric hospitals in the country, implemented strict protocols to reduce risks of transmission of COVID-19. Experts agree that expanding testing availability and speeding up the turnaround of results throughout the country are vital to the fight against COVID-19. This is a true-life situation for a lot of people, where the purpose of this mission was a goal well above business, said Bobby Dunavant, Managing Director of FedEx Express Global Operations Control. Most importantly, her family can travel and receive medical treatment without being separated. When he learned about the opportunity to volunteer at the San Diego COVID-19 Vaccination Super Station, he did not hesitate to sign up., Working at the vaccine station was a once in a lifetime chance to help thousands of people in my community the scale of it all was really amazing to witness, said Simms. This is a tough time for our country. Moments after landing back in Memphis, a FedEx team was waiting to sort and distribute the test swabs to ensure the precious cargo could be quickly delivered to eager recipients in throughout the country. Thats what motivates us. Distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is coordinated by the U.S. Depts. This certainly would not have happened without Doug Jones, Marcus Martinez, Christopher Coburn, Mike King, Karl Lindsley, Bobby Dunavant and Brad Wilson.. And many patients were incredulous that they were receiving their vaccines at the iconic Fenway Park. I never have to feel alone in this journey, says Gagel. The ongoing donor and community support for FedExFamilyHouse has benefited families in other ways as well. Since the lockdown was in effect, we had to get special permission from the government authorities and follow all safety and social distancing guidelines. 85. FedEx: I think youre downplaying the impact youve made. FedEx Office provided signage to help those in line know where to go, what to do and what to expect. A trade group for air cargo giants like UPS and FedEx is sounding the alarm over an impending Dec. 8 vaccine deadline imposed by President Joe Biden, complaining it threatens to wreak havoc at. Silveira is also grateful to be able to help and to witness the joy and relief as people in her community receive their vaccines. On May 8, FedEx donated a FedEx Boeing 777F charter flight to move more than 3,400 oxygen concentrators, converters and nearly 265,000 KN95 masks for Direct Relief from Newark, New Jersey to Mumbai, India. President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room at the White House on Sept. 9, 2021, in Washington. And having served both organizations for more than 10 years, Jami is grateful for the opportunity to do her part in the broader pandemic response. It feels good to know youre bringing back PPE, as well as consumer shipments, to help keep first responders safe and the economy moving.. We'll be continuing to serve the people in slum areas where they need food, education, and the other things like medicine. of Defense overseas in the first six months of distribution. In Texas, FedEx team members have been collaborating with local medical systems, labs and the government on solutions to expedite test results in their communities. July 12, 2021: What does it take to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Canadas far north? FedEx monitored vaccine shipments in its network throughout their journeys, collecting data and lessons learned in real-time to optimize performance and reduce inefficiencies. We were involved with the beta testing.. The judge in that case cited the Supreme Court's actions in the OSHA case in his ruling. The FedEx global network became more essential than ever as customers needed supplies critical to the fight against COVID-19 to be moved as quickly as possible after they were produced and purchased. Like a lot of people around the world, many were living on daily wages, so when the work ran out, so did their money. The company has spent more than a decade developing and testing the product, which started rolling out in the FedEx Express First Overnight network earlier this month. For Ray, who has been involved with COVID-19 vaccine delivery efforts since the very first shipments in the U.S., this is another meaningful contribution to what he views as the assignment of a lifetime. FXO's Joe Simms volunteers in San Diego, CA. April 8, 2020:As demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies has grown throughout the United States, FedEx team members have been working day and night to coordinate the logistics and transportation of these critical shipments. FedEx global operations, sales, customs, technology, and communications teams have been working hand-in-hand to respond to the needs of customers during the pandemic. We are swiftly and safely transporting vaccines and essential medical supplies to communities in need. The least I could do was stay longer to help out, said Athow. In fact, courier specialists Nickolai Oakley and Michael Evans went above and beyond the operations call, driving from one end of Georgia to another to ensure just one packet of tests from the city would be delivered to the lab on time. This first critical shipment of COVID-19 vaccines was transported by truck to Grand Rapids International Airport (GRR), where it would be flown to the FedEx Express hub in Memphis, Tennessee, to be sorted and distributed to final destinations across the U.S. To say that every person getting vaccinated was ecstatic and filled with joy, is an understatement, said Simms. Coburn is the senior manager at a FedEx Express station outside Boston, Massachusetts, a metro area that was one of the initial East Coast hotspots for coronavirus. After evaluating fleet and scheduling options to accommodate these larger shipments, Ray and the FedEx team identified a more efficient and creative solution: diverting larger planes on existing routes from Memphis to Central and South America for quick stops to deliver the vaccines. of Defense overseas in the first six months of distribution. This has evolved into a project typical of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). The trains are empty. Open an account to save 30% off FedEx Express, access time-saving tools, and more! We've doubled our dry ice capacity and leveraged contingency cold storage facilities. When fully deployed with all units, the hospital has a 60-bed capacity, 12 medical shelters that take up the length of the feedback field and weighs some 50 tons. February 9, 2021:Meet Captain Tom Gregory. More. By the end of December 2020, we had delivered approved COVID-19 vaccines to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. This effort is among the most important work in the history of our company, said Martinez. The more people that are tested, the better off Albany will be as a community because they will know who has COVID-19 and who doesnt to keep people safe.. FedEx is currently supporting the global vaccine supply chain in more than 25 countries, and in 3.5 months approximately 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were delivered across the U.S. "I didn't think about it much at the time because I was focused on flying into a new airport, but in retrospect it's nice to know you're hauling things that are important to keeping people safe," First Officer Barlow said. of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control to transport COVID-19 test samples from testing centers to labs for analysis throughout the country. This technology is complemented by the FedEx Surround platform, which leverages artificial intelligence and predictive tools to proactively monitor conditions surrounding the packages, allowing customer support agents to intervene if weather or traffic delays threaten to impede delivery times. Theres been a lot of heartache lately, so we just wanted to do our part in the Albany community by helping these test samples get to where they had to go.. He spent time talking to everyone involved, from the priority alert team members, to his contacts at the testing site and lab. That was the day that Sara was set to get her degree in International Studies from Rhodes College. In September, Biden signed an executive order requiring all federal employees and federal contractors receive the Covid-19 vaccine, without the ability to opt out by taking weekly Covid tests. And just last year, FedEx planes transported medical supplies and a health facility to Grand Bahamas island, which had nearly been leveled by Hurricane Dorian. Wheeler said UPS added 100,000 temporary workers to help facilitate deliveries during the peak mailing season. All Federal Employees Must Be Vaccinated: Biden announced a mandate that U.S. federal employees get a Covid vaccine, with no option for regular testing, and for health-care facilities that get Medicare and Medicaid funding to have staff fully vaccinated. FedEx: How did you start out? The law allows for vaccine requirements without religious exemptions.