Beijing Capital International Airport is at the forefront of China's efforts to ship the coronavirus vaccine around the world.

Workers for Beijing Aviation Ground Services (BGS) have been busy lately. BGS handles most of the vaccines shipped out of China from Beijing.

According to Fu Chunlei, director of international cold chain transport at BGS, they have sent over 1,100 tonnes of vaccine to some 41 countries and regions around the globe since last July.

Refrigerated storage has been set up to store the vaccines, which are wrapped up in specially made cold-chain containers for long-distance transport.

Most of the carriers coming to fetch vaccines are charted airplanes, many of which are temporarily modified passenger aircraft. As a result, it often requires extra attention and labor.

The Beijing Capital International Airport has given flights coming to pick up vaccine high priority, which allows them to come and go efficiently.

"We have sent experienced personnel to handle flights carrying vaccines to ensure that they get the best service that we can provide," said Zhao Zheng, director of operations and apron services at BGS.

Ensuring the efficient transport of vaccines is a top priority for China's Air transportation sector.

Because two of China's major coronavirus vaccine makers, Sinopharm and Sinovac, have all their production plants in Beijing, Capital International has become a vaccine transportation hub.

"Vaccine transport is a key process in the supply of quality vaccine and to ensure the safety and efficiency of vaccine transport," said Yu Biao, head of the transport department at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

To ensure the safety and efficiency of vaccine transport, the CAAC drafted a guidebook for COVID-19 vaccine transport by the end of 2020. The guide provided a reference for all vaccine transporters in China. 

The CAAC revised the guidebook in February 2021 and formed a special team to support and coordinate vaccine transportation. The CAAC has also sent experts to participate in drafting technical documents concerning the safe transport of vaccines internationally.

According to the CAAC, China has exported vaccines to 43 countries by March, and it's also sent free vaccines to 69 developing countries.