Encourage the development of vaccines in 9 out of 13 cases
‘Overseas acquisition’ ordered only in November after the global vaccine war
Even mid-November, “the domestic vaccine development is showing progress”
On the 22nd, the Blue House released a “written briefing on vaccines” that refuted the point that it was not able to secure the amount of vaccine for coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in time. Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok said that through this data, President Moon Jae-in has ordered’secure sufficient vaccines’ since April. However, if you look at the list of 13 orders of President Moon from April 9 to December 8, which was released by the Blue House on that day, it was revealed that there were virtually no orders related to overseas vaccine purchases before September this year.
Of the 13 President Moon’s remarks released by the Blue House that day, nine were about the development of a corona treatment and vaccine (7 cases) and the consignment production of SK Bioscience’s AstraZeneca vaccine (2 cases). President Moon visited Pasteur Korea Research Institute in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on April 9, and presided over the’Corona Treatment Vaccine Development Joint Conference’ and said, “We will definitely help develop the treatment and vaccine. We will stockpile the developed treatment and vaccine (even if the corona is over). Look.”
At the State Council on April 14, he said, “We must speed up the development of vaccines and treatments, and use it as an opportunity to increase the level of biopharmaceuticals.” On September 8, the State Council ordered’National Infectious Disease Research Institute’s Vaccine Development Support’. Instead of importing overseas vaccines, it emphasized’self-development of vaccines and treatments’.
Four messages stating’Secure overseas vaccines’ came out after September. The first order was instructed at an internal staff meeting on September 15th, “Sure enough vaccines through COVAX and global pharmaceutical companies.” The remaining three cases ordered to secure overseas vaccines have been concentrated since the end of November, when the controversy over the non-security of the vaccine spread. However, by this time, the war on vaccine quantities, such as Pfizer and Modena, that secured safety was already over. It means the presidential order was that much late.
President Moon encouraged’vaccine development’ at his visit to SK Bioscience, a vaccine development company on October 15, and at a bio-industry event held at Yonsei University’s International Campus in Songdo, Incheon on November 18. Political circles said, “It was revealed that other countries have competed in securing overseas vaccines from the first half of this year, but President Moon was confident in K quarantine and emphasized only its own vaccines until November when other countries finished securing the vaccine.
Some observers say that the quarantine authorities have delayed securing vaccines, as President Moon puts weight on the development of vaccines and treatments, and issued a message that “safety is more important than speed”. President Moon said at a meeting with SK Bioscience in October, “I have a strong desire to develop vaccines and treatments faster than in other countries, but safety and efficacy are more important than speed.”
Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun also appeared on the KBS Sunday Diagnosis on the 20th and cited expectations for the development of domestic vaccine treatments as the reason for the delay in introducing overseas vaccines. Prime Minister Chung said, “We expect our vaccine to be released around the end of next year, and the government was in the position of obtaining the necessary amount of vaccine on time.” Prime Minister Chung also said, “In July, when the government operated the Vaccine Task Force (TF), the number of confirmed cases in Korea was around 100, so there was a side that did not plan to increase dependence on vaccines.”
Some say in the government office, “Nothing has changed since the President’s order in September.” It is also said that the public officials who witnessed the punishment of the Moon Jae-in administration for’clearing the bankruptcy’ in the early days of the Moon Jae-in administration did not move directly, fearing that they would be responsible for securing the vaccine.
The following is the full text of President Moon’s remarks released by the Blue House.
1. Institut Pasteur Korea in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do (April 9)’Corona Treatment and Vaccine Development Industry-Academic Joint Conference’
-At the meeting that day, he promised “I will definitely help with the development of treatments and vaccines.” Promised to invest 210 billion won in vaccine development. “We will stockpile the developed treatment and vaccine (even if the corona is over). See the end!” Then, the government-wide regular support system including’jeong’ to the existing’industrial-academic cooperation’ was instructed.
2. President Moon-Chairman of Bill Gates (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) made a phone call (April 10) agreed to expand cooperation in the development of COVID-19 vaccine and treatment. The Gates Foundation supported SK Bioscience for the development of a vaccine worth $3.6 million (4.4 billion won) in May, after the call. Selected for 10 million dollars (10.9 billion won) support this month.
3. Announced the composition of the Pan-Government Support Group (April 12) for the development of a vaccine for corona treatment under the direction of President Moon, and is still in operation.
4. At the State Council meeting (April 14), it was emphasized to the State Council members that “the development of vaccines and treatments should be used as an opportunity to increase the level of biopharmaceuticals within the speed.”
5. “The launch of the Smart Korea Fund will play a role in supporting vaccines and treatments” at the President’s Senior Advisors Meeting (July 20).
6. Internal Staff Meeting (July 21)
-SK Bioscience reported on the fact that AstraZeneca was commissioned to produce a vaccine, and asked for “supply enough supplies”.
7. Encourage the development of vaccine treatments in line with the promotion of the KCDC at the State Council (September 8). He ordered, “I want to increase the ability to respond to infectious diseases by supporting the development of a new vaccine under the National Institute of Infectious Diseases under the National Institute of Health.”
8. Internal Staff Meeting (September 15)
-After taking care of the corona vaccine situation, he instructed “to secure a sufficient amount of vaccine through Kobox and global pharmaceutical companies.”
9. Visited SK Bioscience, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, a corona vaccine developer (October 15)
-Expressed appreciation for government-wide support such as SK Chairman Tae-won Choi and Celltrion Chairman Seo Jeong-jin. President Moon reaffirmed, “I will spare no support until the end, until I am successful.” “SK Bioscience is in consultation with global vaccine companies such as AstraZeneca and NovaVax. If we can supply some of the production to us first, it will be a great help to secure vaccine stability.” “Even if another country develops first, even if the corona passes, develop until the end for vaccine sovereignty. Let’s see the end,” he encouraged.
10.Attend the bio industry event (November 18) held at Yonsei University’s International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, and evaluated the role of Samsung Biologics and encouraged (“Vaccine and treatment development progresses show that the market for antibody treatments and plasma treatments will begin as soon as possible. Will show”)
11. Internal Staff Meeting (November 24)
“The question about vaccine safety should be based on science and medicine, unless we are careless in the handling of the shipment. Do your best to secure it.”
12. Internal Staff Meeting (November 30)
“Secure enough quantity to be said to be excessive. Don’t think roughly.”
13. Report of President Moon and Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki (December 8)
“Even if the financial burden is large, support the securing of additional vaccine supplies,” he instructed again.