Prime Minister Jung “Arrived in early February for 50,000 people” Who is the vaccine, No. 1

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun said on the 20th that the initial volume of 50,000 vaccines for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) will arrive early next month, and that it is preparing to start the first vaccination in the beginning of the same month. The quarantine authorities said that the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available first in mid-February, but it means that the domestic vaccine introduction will be further delayed if the plan announced by Prime Minister Chung. Interest is focused on which vaccines will come in first and who will get them first.

Prime Minister Chung appeared on MBC radio that day and said, “It is possible that the initial volume of the 10 million contracted with Kobax Facility will arrive in February.” “I answered that I would receive a call in early February and are preparing now.” said. COVAX is an international consultative body for joint purchase and distribution of vaccines. Korea has secured 10 million people through Kobax. However, the specific timing of introduction and type of vaccine have not been identified.

Prime Minister Chung explained, “The amount is not large,” and “It is 100,000 doses, for 50,000 people, and that is not confirmed, and we are discussing it.” When asked, “Can the first vaccination be started in the beginning of mid-February,” he said, “We are fully preparing to do so,” and said that the first vaccination target is likely to be a medical staff.

Earlier, President Moon Jae-in said at a New Year’s press conference on the 18th, “There is a possibility that the amount of Kovacs (facility) will come in first. We plan to start vaccination from February and finish the first vaccination of the people who need vaccination by September.” Said.

In response, the Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters said at a regular briefing on the 20th, “We received an initial offer from Kovacs and expressed our intention. Not only us, but also each country is conducting a demand survey, and by the end of January after the investigation, it will be decided which vaccine will be available when.” Shin Hye-kyung, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “There is a possibility that the person can enter in early February. There is no part that is 100% confirmed.”
The initial volume of Kovacs is expected to be one of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Modena. As the AstraZeneca vaccine is already undergoing approval review by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, temporary approval for use is expected in mid-February. It can be distributed at room temperature, and it is not difficult to store, so it can be immediately put into the medical field. Pfizer-Modena must have a special distribution network capable of cryogenic freezing. It seems that a separate vaccination center should be established. According to government officials, contracts with cryogenic distributors are almost imminent. In addition, it has secured 100 domestic products so that a cryogenic freezer can be placed in the inoculation center. It will be deployed at the end of January. However, Pfizer vaccines have undergone preliminary review prior to the full-scale approval review stage, and Moderna has not even begun preliminary review, so even if the two vaccines arrive in early February, it may take 40-60 days for actual vaccination.

It is highly likely that the initial supply for 50,000 people will go back to the frontline medical staff who treat corona19 patients, as Prime Minister Chung revealed. The government initially selected 566,000 elderly people aged 65 or older living in nursing homes or nursing homes as their top priority. However, due to the small volume, analysis showed that it is better to match the medical staff first than to match some of them. Accordingly, it is expected that the first vaccination in Korea will be the medical staff.

Reporter Esther and Kim Min-wook [email protected]