The government signed an additional 40 million doses

Securing twice the amount of the nationwide

The government has signed an additional 40 million doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine product.

 

As a result, Korea has secured twice the amount of vaccine vaccination in the country, enabling it to achieve the goal of forming collective immunity in November.

 

Pan-government vaccine introduction TF (Team Leader Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare) announced that an additional purchase contract for 40 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines (for 20 million people) was signed by holding an emergency briefing during the day on the 24th.

 

The government explained that after forming a pan-government vaccine introduction TF to stably supply COVID-19 vaccine on the 1st, it has mobilized all of its government-wide capabilities, including diplomatic efforts, by consistently meeting with each vaccine pharmaceutical company.

 

This contract is the result of ongoing negotiations by discussing the supply of vaccines through video conferences with Pfizer with Kwon Deok-cheol, head of the Pan-Government Vaccine Introduction Task Force on the 9th and 23rd of this month.

 

◆Signed an additional purchase contract for Pfizer vaccine= This year, a total of 66 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, which was originally 26 million doses and 40 million doses contracted, were supplied, resulting in a total of 33 million Pfizer vaccines.

 

Pfizer's vaccine has been supplied in 1.75 million doses so far, including 7 million doses by the end of June, and plans to supply 59 million doses sequentially from the third quarter.

 

Pfizer vaccines have been supplied regularly every week since the start of supply on March 24th.

 

With the signing of an additional purchase contract this time, the foundation for a more stable supply of COVID-19 vaccine has been laid.

 

◆COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Status and Plan The total number of COVID-19 vaccines secured by Korea this year amounted to 192 million doses, a total of 99 million.

 

This is the amount that can be vaccinated for about 1.9 times of the total population in Korea and 2.75 times for the 36 million vaccination targets for the formation of collective immunity.

 

The vaccine contracted for this year was for 79 million people, enough to secure collective immunity, but additional purchases laid the foundation to accelerate the time to achieve collective immunity.

 

It is possible to prepare for additional demands that may arise in the future, such as the 3rd vaccination (called booster shot) to cope with the mutant virus and the expansion of the target age for vaccinations under the age of 18 to prepare for the uncertainty in the international vaccine supply and demand.

 

First of all, the government plans to do its best to achieve the target inoculation for 12 million people with the 18.09 million doses confirmed by the end of June.

 

AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines, which are currently being vaccinated, have already supplied 3.87 million doses of vaccine, and a total of 18.09 million doses will be supplied by the second quarter.

 

The government plans to closely monitor the vaccine supply situation on a full-cycle basis to ensure that 18.09 million doses will be supplied without disruption, while additionally introducing some of the Novavax, Moderna and Janssen vaccines within the first half of the year, so that up to 20.8 million doses can be supplied.

 

The government said, "By the end of June, 12 million people are vaccinated to prevent infection in high-risk groups such as nursing hospitals, facility admissions, and residents, thereby preventing severe and death, and through vaccinations for COVID-19 treatment, response personnel, and health care workers.

 

We expected to be able to contribute to the maintenance of the quarantine system." From July, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, as well as Novavax, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines are expected to be supplied in earnest.

 

Accordingly, a total of 100 million vaccines are planned to be supplied by the end of September.

 

The total amount negotiated by the end of September is about 80 million doses of AZ, Pfizer, Novavax, Moderna, and Janssen, and when added to the supply in the first half, about 100 million doses of vaccine will be supplied by the end of September.

 

This is an amount that can be vaccinated to more than 50 million people, and if the supply is smooth, it will be possible to inoculate all 44 million people over the age of 18 with only the amount until the end of September.

 

In order to form collective immunity, vaccination of about 36 million people, or 70% of 52 million people, is necessary.

 

The government said, "Through this additional purchase contract, it is possible to secure a sufficient amount of vaccine and achieve early achievement even after meeting the goal of forming population immunity in November." This is the result of specifying the supply schedule of vaccines, which were scheduled to be supplied in the second half of the year, by pursuing additional contracts through the pan-government vaccine introduction TF and expanding the volume of existing contracted vaccines in the third quarter.

 

Although the supply and demand of vaccines worldwide is uncertain, the government said that through additional purchase contracts and quarterly consultations on supply, the government laid the foundation for more stable and rapid vaccination.

 

About 90 million doses to be supplied in the fourth quarter will be used to respond to a variety of situations in a relaxed manner, and to actively utilize additional vaccinations if necessary.

 

The government said, "In the future, we plan to actively cope with various situations that may arise during the vaccine supply and demand process through comprehensive support such as approval of COVID-19 vaccine, release of national lots, and supply of raw and subsidiary materials.

 

By the end of June, 12 million people will be vaccinated and all government-wide capabilities will be mobilized to achieve collective immunity in November." Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said, "The government will do its best to prevent quarantine, introduce vaccines, and vaccinations so that the people's precious daily lives can be restored.

 

I sincerely ask the people to believe in and actively cooperate with the government's plans and guidance for securing vaccines and vaccinations." The government plans to continue meticulous efforts on vaccine safety.

 

The KCDA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said, "The vaccines contracted by our government are products that have been approved for safety, and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.

 

I hope you will actively participate in the order of vaccination."