As India gets ready to vaccinate millions, the little-known logistics company has emerged as a transporter of choice for pharma companies
First Covishield vaccines consignment leaves Serum Institute, Pune
For Kunal and Rahul Agarwal, January 12 isn’t just another day.
Eight years after the siblings decided to take their family-run business into uncharted territories, they can finally heave a sigh of relief.
That’s because, on January 12, Kool-ex, a company they own became the first transporter in India to ferry the first batch of the long-awaited Covid-19 vaccine, intended to vaccinate millions of Indians, from Serum Institute of India’s (SII) manufacturing facility in Pune to the city’s airport.
SII is currently mandated with supplying over 30 crore vaccine doses to the Indian government, and the first consignment of these—478 boxes, each weighing 32 kg—were loaded onto three trucks meant for 13 cities. “We carried the first consignment to the airport,” says Kunal. “We will then pick it up at the destination airports and move it forward to the final destinations.”
Through the day, six more trucks will leave the SII’s manufacturing facility for numerous destinations across the country. “These will go up north,” Kunal adds. The movement will take place after a small ceremony at the facility.