i. identify entities involved in the manufacture, handling, and transportation of COVID-19 vaccines, and provide them with sufficient information on how they can be approved as Known Consignors or Regulated Agents under a State’s supply chain security process, if they have not already been approved; and

 

ii. consider granting Known Consignor status urgently to approved production facilities for COVID-19 vaccines, taking into account such entities may already have supply chain security policies and procedures in place, and may be overseen by other State authorities, such as pharmaceutical regulators or Customs authorities⁵. Until such approvals for Known Consignor status can be completed, States may consider granting temporary exemptions from security screening of COVID-19 vaccine shipments, in accordance with a State’s own risk assessment.

 

i. consider granting temporary exemptions from security screening of COVID 19 vaccine shipments that are properly identified and coming from a reliable source, in accordance with a State’s own risk assessment;

 

ii. provide information to industry stakeholders on what documentation accompanying COVID 19 vaccine shipments is required to identify the shipment as coming from a reliable source⁶, and the protocols to be applied to such shipments, particularly where exemptions from screening and/or supply chain security measures are provided for; 

 

iii. ensure that all COVID-19 vaccine shipments, that are being transported in line with these guidelines are issued with a security status, either in an electronic format or in writing, which should accompany the cargo throughout the supply chain; and

 

iv. ensure that COVID-19 vaccine shipments, even if exempted from screening, are protected at all times (e.g. ensuring that shipments of COVID-19 vaccines are only accessible to authorized staff).

 

i. consignments of COVID-19 vaccines transported as transfer cargo may not need to be re screened at the point of transfer. The State of transfer shall ensure that such cargo is subjected to appropriate security controls and protected thereafter at all times before being loaded on aircraft departing from its territory. Each consignment should have a security status indicating the security controls/exemptions applied from the up-station airport to accompany the shipment; 

 

ii. consignments of COVID-19 vaccines transported as transit cargo (departing on the same aircraft it arrived on) may not need to be re-screened. Such consignments should be clearly indicated on the accompanying airway bills; and

 

iii. where such transfer or transit cargo is suspected to be have been tampered with, States should apply the applicable security measures as defined in the transfer/transit State’s National Civil Aviation Security Programme.