Alumnus, With Family Business, Plays Part in COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

For many, the news in December of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer was, understandably, cause for celebration.

But it would mean a mobilization like the nation has not seen since World War II to get those doses to the American people. And that’s where people like Brad Dunn, ’08, and the family business in St. Louis where he is vice president, Cee Kay Supply, come in.

Specializing in compressed gases such as oxygen and welding equipment, the 73-year-old company is also Missouri’s only manufacturer of solid carbon dioxide, or dry ice, which is critical to keeping the Pfizer vaccine cold during transport and prior to administration. For Dunn, that has meant fielding lots of inquiries from vaccine administration sites and garnering attention from both local media outlets and national publications such as the Wall Street Journal.

The truth, he said, is that demand for dry ice had already been higher than average during the pandemic because more people were having fresh food or using meal delivery services while at home.

“The demand for dry ice turned on like a light switch,” he said. “So we had to ramp up for that and that’s really where the news stations have caught up with the fact that there was a huge demand.”

By October, Dunn said he began to hear about a potential vaccine and its temperature requirements that could further increase demand. Inquiries started coming in before the FDA approval. However, Dunn said in the month since the vaccine was approved, production at the company’s three dedicated dry ice production facilities (one of which is located in North Kansas City) — capable of producing about 40,000 pounds of dry ice per day — has really picked up.

“It’s been exciting and it’s been a little bit busy,” he said.

Cee Kay is primarily producing dry ice for rural hospitals or health facilities that do not have a mechanical freezer on site to store the vaccine. At the same time, he said, the company is supporting local health providers as needed and assisting with a larger regional effort.

“We’re shipping about 20 tons a week to a facility that is contracting with pharmacies doing home health care vaccinations,” he said. “They’re shipping it out to about 700 pharmacies in the Midwest.”

All told, it’s an increase of approximately 10% of normal business. More than that, Dunn said, it’s a chance to play a small part in a huge effort, amid challenging circumstances. While the scientists who developed the vaccine, the health care workers on the front lines of pandemic, and other essential workers who keep things running deserve the credit, Dunn said it’s been nice to support the cause and showcase what our hardworking team members are capable of as well.

“It’s always good to be in the news for something good,” he said. “I think our people are excited to participate in something that means so much to the world. It gives you a little extra boost to come in and take pride in what you do.”