1.3 million people receive the COVAX Astra vaccine… 990,000 North Koreans

Cobax Facility, a global vaccine co-purchase agreement. It is led by the World Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), and is jointly operated by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Innovation Alliance (CEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF. It is designed for fair access to vaccines worldwide, including in low-income countries. [홈페이지 캡처]

The World Health Organization (WHO) held a joint press briefing with the World Vaccine Immunization Association (GAVI) on the 3rd (local time) and announced plans for the first provisional vaccine distribution of COVAX Facility, an international vaccine joint purchase agreement.

According to the announcement, in the first quarter (February-March), Korea delivered 117,000 special supplies (58,500 people) from Pfizer and Bioentech, and 2.58 million AstraZeneca in the second quarter (April to June). (129,84 million) will be supplied.

Earlier, the government announced that it has secured 10 million vaccines this year through Cobax Facility. Pfizer’s supply plan is known, but this is the first time that AstraZeneca’s initial supply has been confirmed.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved a special import from Pfizer’s Vaccine Cominati state. Food and Drug Administration Minister Kim Kang-rip said, “A measure was taken in unavoidable circumstances under the condition that the procedures that can be used in Korea must be completed in order to be supplied from Kovacs.” Pfizer vaccine shipments are expected to come in after the Lunar New Year.

Pfizer vaccine. [AFP=연합뉴스]

In an announcement on the day, Kovacs said, “We decided to release a small amount of Pfizer’s vaccine, which is listed on the WHO’s Emergency Use List (EUL), the first among the recently released vaccines. 1.2 million times (for 600,000 people) will be distributed to Korea, the Philippines, and Peru first. Pfizer is only supplied to countries with specific conditions, such as domestic distribution networks and approval by regulatory authorities in accordance with WHO regulations.

In the case of AstraZeneca vaccine, it is said that 366 million doses (for 168 million people) will be distributed to KOVAX member states during the first half of the year. This is the quantity produced by consignment by Serum Research Institute in India and SK Bioscience in Korea.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that North Korea was also included in the first distribution target announced by Kobax on that day. North Korea is said to receive 1,992,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine (996,000 million people) produced by Serum Research Center in India. North Korea has been classified as a low-income country that receives vaccines for free or at low cost according to the Cobax System’s Promise to Purchase.

Previously, foreign media such as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Free Asia Broadcasting (RFA) reported that North Korea hopes to receive a vaccine through the COVAX system, but this is the first time the WHO has confirmed this.

SK Bioscience Plant in Andong, Gyeongbuk. AstraZeneca vaccine will be commissioned. [연합뉴스]

Including the announcement on this day, 145 countries were assigned the initial supply, including 88 AMC countries and 52 self-pay (SFP) countries. Volumes for other non-UN member states are held separately. Korea is an SFP country.

Advanced countries such as the US, Europe, and Japan were not included in this announcement. It seems that these countries have already secured a considerable amount through individual purchase negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.

Reporter Esther Lee Yoo-jung [email protected]