WIREDGOV

With Moderna’s Covid jab recently showing 94.5% efficacy in clinical trials, and Pfizer and BioNTech showing 90%, hopes are now raised for a marked change in how the world manages the pandemic. A key part of a vaccine having the required impact however, will be successful distribution to those who need it most.

The Drone Delivery Group's second 'Drone Discussions' event, will focus on the role commercial drone technology could play in the distribution of a future vaccine and what industry needs to do to break the trail cycle and achieve an operational capability.

This live streamed discussion is part of a series of virtual events aiming to increase awareness of the commercial opportunities that drone operations could provide.

The panel will cover:

• The challenges associated with vaccine distribution
• Observations from recent trials such as those carrying medical supplies between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and the trials in Essex to deliver Covid supplies between NHS hospitals
• What future drone enabled vaccine distribution could look like
• What industry, the Government and others need to do to make drone logistics a viable option

The event is aimed at anyone within the NHS, pharmaceutical and logistics sectors who is responsible for exploring the adoption of drone technology.

Confirmed panel members:

Robert Garbett, Chairman of the Drone Delivery Group (chair)

Prof Tom Cherrett, Professor of Logistics and Transport Management at University of Southampton

Jamie Sayer, Compliance Lead, UK Test & Evaluation at Boeing

Harry Howe, Medical Logistics Advisor for Drone Major

Register here

Information for joining this event will be sent via email to those who register the day before.

It is run by the not-for-profit, Drone Delivery Group, set-up as a vehicle for the drone industry to voice its views on the commercial drone industry to the Government. The events hope to provide those responsible for considering drone use for their organisations with the information they need to bridge this gap and more quickly realise the benefits of drone technology.

These panel discussions build on the success of the ‘Commercialisation of the Drone Industry” White Paper submitted to Government in July this year. The Drone Delivery Group hopes to provoke discussion to highlight the challenges faced by industry in general, the drone industry in particular and the UK Government, as a means to speed up the development and benefits this emerging area of technology could provide to the UK economy.