THE nationwide roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine is being made possible thanks to the work of a Warrington logistics firm.

Relay Technical Transport, which is based in Dallam, has undertaken the major assignment of planning, scheduling and delivering hundreds of Eppendorf freezers to NHS central storage sites and regional hubs.

It is one of many logistics companies playing a vital role in supporting healthcare throughout the pandemic by enabling PPE, materials and equipment to reach hospitals, care homes and other key locations.

The rapid approval of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, and now the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, created an urgent demand for the delivery of ultra-low temperature freezer units for the NHS.

Warrington Guardian: The ultra-low temperature vaccine freezersThe ultra-low temperature vaccine freezers

This allows the vaccine to be stored at optimum temperature ahead of use.

Relay specialises in the storage, transport and handling of high value, fragile and frequently bulky electronic equipment such as the high-tech freezers, ensuring that they are delivered safely.

Chris Taylor, operations manager at Relay's Warrington depot, explained that the assignment has been carried out with meticulous planning and tight scheduling.

“Through our sophisticated satellite navigation and tracking systems, we are able to provide total visibility at every stage of a delivery process,” he said.

Warrington Guardian: Relat teams loading the vaccine freezers for deliveryRelat teams loading the vaccine freezers for delivery

“These IT assets are always invaluable for determining the position of high value goods in transit, and they have been absolutely essential when dealing with items of such critical importance as these freezer units for vaccine storage.”

Relay has a long-standing experience in handling the collection, transport and delivery of medical, scientific and laboratory equipment.

The company's sales director, Daniel Rangecroft, explained that the firm was involved in assignments including deliveries to the NHS Nightingale Hospitals during the first lockdown in March.

“Even as the UK enters this new period of lockdown, our essential work will continue unabated as the newly approved Oxford University Astra Zeneca vaccine is rolled out to the NHS nationwide,” he added.