[서울신문] Disease Administration “Application for special import of Pfizer vaccine quantity received through COVAX”

Pfizer’s novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine secured through the international project’COVAX facility’ will enter Korea through a special import procedure.

On the 2nd, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a press release, “We plan to apply for special importation to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine (for about 60,000 people), which will be supplied through COVAX after mid-February.”

‘Special import’ is a system that allows drugs that are not approved domestically to be imported from abroad to cope with the pandemic of infectious diseases. It was also used in the process of introducing remdesivir, a treatment for Corona 19.

The disease agency made this decision based on the results of an expert advisory meeting held in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

A total of 11 people attended the advisory meeting, including vaccines, clinical experts, and experts recommended by the Korean Medical Association. The Agency for Disease Control and Prevention said experts have agreed to import special Pfizer vaccines that will be received through COVAX.

The Agency for Disease Control and Prevention said, “Experts consider the fact that they have been approved for use by major countries such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and that the Korean Food and Drug Administration also participated in WHO’s safety, efficacy, and quality evaluation as a cooperative review I did” he explained.

The import will be made when the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety holds a related council to deliberate on whether the import of the vaccine is appropriate and approves the special import.

An official from the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention said, “As soon as the special approval process is completed, we will expedite relevant administrative procedures such as supply-related contracts with Pfizer, delivery contracts with UNICEF, and customs clearance.

Reporter Lim Hyo-jin [email protected]