What’s going on: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a vaccine for emergency use. The United Kingdom and Canada have given the green light to start distribution. Approval of the Moderna (MRNA) vaccine may also be immediate, following reviews showing that it is safe and effective. Businesses have been preparing for this moment for months. Thermo King – who revolutionized food transportation with the advancement of temperature-controlled shipping before World War II – along with pharmaceutical companies, governments and logistics companies ensure that vaccines freeze when they go to clinics and hospitals. To do this, they reworked the containers commonly used to transport fresh tuna to Japan. “We took that product and edited it,” Francesco Incalsa, president of Thermo King Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told me. The tuna is stored at -60 degrees Celsius or -76 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain its quality and deep red color when it reaches supermarkets and restaurants, Incalsa said. The Pfizer-Bioentech vaccine should be stored at -70 degrees Celsius or -94 degrees Fahrenheit. Thermo King, which is part of Ireland-based Train Technologies, has made some changes and added additional insulation and air conditioning adjustment system so it can be even cooler. Now, 300,000 doses of Pfizer (PFE) vaccine can be carried by land or sea in every 20-foot-long container. Some have already been sold and are going around the world. This is an example of how companies are prepared to handle the delicate, complex process of vaccine distribution. My colleagues Gregory Wallace and Pete Mundian are ready to implement the supply chain of manufacturers and shippers within 24 hours of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s emergency utilization approval – a complex system that includes warehouses, trucks, and aircraft. Planning, dry runs and stockpiling are already underway. Airlines will be at the center of the effort. The International Air Transport Association says 8,000 aircraft will be needed to deliver the vaccines. Training is right: American Airlines (AAL) says its wide-body Boeing 787 jetliners can carry half a million vaccine doses. It began operating test flights between South America and Miami in November. Meanwhile, FedEx (FDX) says it has more than 90 cold storage facilities worldwide to help keep the Pfizer vaccine cold enough. UPS oversees a “set of highly integrated movements” from a command center in Louisville, Kentucky. But the United States is not alone in its need for integration. In a recent interview with CNN’s Bobby Harlow, Melinda Gates stressed that the leaders of rich countries should not forget the rest of the world. “Everyone needs this vaccine,” said Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “If we only get this to high-income countries, the disease will keep going around. We’re going to see double the number of deaths.” The British pound could crash. The UK has not finalized a trade deal with the European Union that could cause the British pound to fall, says my CNN trading colleague Charles Riley. Currency traders are worried about the latest signals from London that a deal could be struck before the end of a Brexit transition period on January 1 Brussels UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson went to Brussels last week for dinner with European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen. The trip failed to make progress on thorny issues, including fishing rights, government assistance to companies and how to resolve disputes. But officials returned to the negotiating table, announcing that the United Kingdom and the European Union would extend the talks again on Sunday. Sunday was the latest self-imposed deadline. Investors may see the extension as a positive sign. But they cannot rest completely until a contract is finalized. “Binary effect [deal or no-deal] Is on the edge of a knife, which will set the pound for an external move once Brexit Saga reaches its end, “FXTM’s market analyst Han Tan said in a research note on Friday. Still “hopeful,” he added. The pound traded close to 35.35 earlier this month when the deal between the United Kingdom and its largest export market was high. Analysts have warned that the currency could fall sharply to 20 1.20 if it becomes clear that a deal is no longer possible. On Friday, it was near 32 1.32, down 0.6%. Next Monday: OPEC Monthly Report Tuesday: EU expects to propose new technology terms; US industrial production data; U.S. External Brands (AOPC) Revenue Wednesday: Federal Reserve decision; U.S. retail; Flash BMI data Thursday: Bank of England results; US Unemployment Claims and Housing Launches; Accenture (ACN), General Mills (GIS), Right Aid (RAT), BlackBerry (PP) and FedEx (FTX) earnings Friday: Bank of Japan results; Nike (NKE) Revenue.
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