[서울신문] As scheduled for vaccination… Prime Minister 丁“Determining the quantity and timing of Kobax this week”

“AstraZeneca commissioned production… There will be no delay”
The first government-medical community to discuss cooperation with Uijeongbu
‘6 medical and quarantine representatives, 1st vaccination’ denied

While Europe is experiencing a shortage of Corona 19 vaccine, it is noteworthy whether Korea will be able to receive the promised vaccine volume in the first quarter. The vaccine, which has been delayed in supply, is a product of AstraZeneca and Pfizer, which, unfortunately, is the first vaccine to be introduced into Korea in stages at the beginning of next month.

AstraZeneca said the vaccine supply would be delayed due to a fire at its production facility in India. Pfizer has also notified that it will not be able to supply the promised quantity to the European Union (EU) for three to four weeks due to the construction of a production facility in Belgium.

Korea is planning to introduce the AstraZeneca vaccine in the first quarter and inoculate it from the medical staff and the elderly. Of the 10 million vaccines to be brought in from Cobax Facility, a multinational vaccine alliance, the initial volume of 50,000, which is scheduled to be supplied at the beginning of next month, is highly likely to become a Pfizer vaccine. First of all, the quarantine authorities are confident that the vaccine can be supplied as planned because the AstraZeneca vaccine is being commissioned at SK Bioscience’s Andong plant in Gyeongbuk.

At a briefing on the 26th, the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters said, “We have not received any contact” when asked if it received a call from Cobax Facility that the vaccine supply could be delayed. The vaccine introduction plan in the first quarter has not changed yet. Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun visited Korea’s cryogenic distribution center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do on the same day, and said, “The initial volume and timing of introduction will be decided this week from Kovacs Facility.”

The government and the medical community held the first meeting of the’Corona 19 Vaccine Protocol Joint Committee’ at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss cooperation plans. Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said, “We ask for the support of experienced and high-quality medical personnel even for the private sector.” The medical community promised to cooperate. The government estimates that 10,000 medical institutions and 25,000 vaccination personnel, 250 vaccination centers and 6,000 personnel will be required for vaccination.

The two sides also shared the need to provide accurate information to prevent anxiety from spreading due to vaccine adverse events occurring in some countries. In order to analyze cases of side effects after vaccination in countries around the world, it is necessary to obtain sufficient information from pharmaceutical companies in real time. However, as to whether these contents were included in the vaccine contract, the Korea Disease Administration (KCDC) stated its principle stance that “the contents of the contract will not be disclosed.” In addition, he refuted some reports that the vaccine, which will be introduced in February, will be given to six representatives of the medical community and quarantine authorities first, saying, “It is not true.” Meanwhile, Minister Kwon said that Celltrion and Daewoong Pharmaceuticals each selected two therapeutics under development, and Cellid and UBiologics each selected two vaccines for clinical support.

Reporter Lee Hyun-jung [email protected]
Reporter Kang Kook-jin [email protected]