Friday, United Airlines began operating charter flights to move shipments of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccination, according to the Wall Street Journal newspaper. The mass inoculation programme is expected to begin in late Dec.

The United Airlines plans on flying cargo flights between the Belgian capital, Brussels, and Chicago's O'Hare airport to support distribution of the vaccine, according to the newspaper.

The British newspaper "Daily Mail" said that the flights are the first step in the global supply and distribution stages, which will start operating when the vaccine is approved by regulators.

The United Airlines obtained special permission by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to fly with increased quantities of dry ice, to keep the vaccine cold, which must be stored at temperatures of minus 70 degrees Celsius.

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