Drone companies are preparing to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in rural US

Reasons for not getting a shot vary — some don't want one at all, while others say they'll wait a bit longer to decide. And then, there are people who want to get vaccinated but are in too remote of an area to get to a typical vaccination site.

They include people working on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico or living in rural areas miles from the nearest doctor's office or pharmacy. Drone companies are positioning themselves to deliver refrigerated medical products to those people. If the plans don't pan out in time to combat the coronavirus crisis, then they hope to be set up to assist swiftly in the world's next big health scare.
Drones tend to be faster and cheaper at handling smaller payloads to remote locations than either trucks or helicopters, according to Wayne Williams, executive director at Coldchain, which is headquartered in Spring Branch, Texas.

"If I have to get a life-saving vaccine to somewhere that's about (300 miles) from here, I have to find a courier, get them on the road, and it can take up to seven hours to get it delivered. If I put the package on a drone, I'm still able to track it, and it gets there sooner for a lot less money," Williams said.