Secured COVID-19 vaccines for 44 million people

Government concludes purchase agreement with Pfizer-Modena

Introduced from the first quarter, vaccination from the vulnerable, and discussion of the future

The government announced that it has secured up to COVID-19 vaccines for 44 million people AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical company, has already signed a contract to supply 10 million vaccines (20 million doses), and Pfizer and Modena announced that they have signed a binding purchase agreement with 10 million doses (20 million doses) respectively.

 

The remaining doses will be filled with COVAX Facility (about 10 million people) and 4 million Janssen vaccines.

 

The government announced that it had deliberated and decided on a plan to secure a vaccine developed overseas for COVID-19 and discussed vaccination plans at a cabinet meeting presided over by the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

 

Through the meeting, the government announced that it will pre-purchase overseas vaccines for up to 44 million people through COVAX Facility (for about 10 million people) and global vaccine companies (for about 34 million people).

 

With the goal of equally supplying vaccines up to 20% of the population by the end of 2021, COVAX Facility is focused on the World Health Organization (WHO), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI, vaccine development), and Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI, vaccine supply).

 

It is a multinational coalition that is being promoted.

 

At a meeting of experts in introducing vaccines, it was recommended to secure AZ, Pfizer, Modena, and Janssen vaccines The government has formed Vaccine Introduction Special Team (TF) composed of relevant ministries and private experts from the end of June to secure vaccines quickly, and from July to global companies leading vaccine development such as Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

 

On September 15th, it was decided to first secure a vaccine that can inoculate 60% of the people (about 30 million people) through participation in COVAX Facility and negotiations with individual companies as a first step through a state council meeting.

 

It is explained that the government has been reviewing the supply conditions, safety and effectiveness of each company with private experts, and has carefully negotiated to secure a vaccine with good safety, effectiveness and high probability of success.

 

The government decided to pre-purchase more vaccines than vaccines that can be inoculated by 60% of the population, taking into account the possibility of failure of the developed vaccine after discussing experts in the field of vaccines, and proceeding with the procedure for signing a contract for pre-purchase with global companies.

 

The committee recommended securing all vaccines from four companies: AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Modena, and Janssen.

 

Accordingly, the government first purchases up to 64 million doses (for 32 million people) of vaccine through global pharmaceutical companies.

 

The government pre-purchases 20 million AstraZeneca batches, 20 million Pfizer batches, 4 million Janssen batches, and 20 million batches by pharmaceutical companies.

 

The government announced that AstraZeneca had already signed a pre-purchase contract, and the rest of the companies also signed binding terms and conditions, and confirmed purchase quantities, and the remaining contract procedures will be expedited.

 

It explained that the pre-purchased vaccine will be introduced in stages from the first quarter of 2021 (February and March), and it will closely monitor the development trend of subsequent vaccine development in the future, and will actively secure additional quantities required.

 

The government explained that it has secured a budget of about ₩1.3 trillion, including ₩172.3 billion for transfer and exclusive use of the 2020 budget for advance payment of vaccines and purchase of vaccines, for the fourth additional ₩183.9 billion, and ₩900 billion for reserves in 2021.

 

₩85 billion of ₩172.3 billion is previously executed as an advance payment for joining the COVAX Facility.

 

Establishment of COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, Comprehensive consideration of vaccination timing The government said that it will prepare COVID-19 vaccination system quickly and without disruption.

 

It was expected that there would be difficulties in the vaccination preparation process due to the storage conditions of the vaccine (Pfizer -70℃±10℃, etc.), short shelf life, two doses and various types.

 

Regardless of the timing of vaccinations, the government plans to pursue preparations in earnest.

 

The KDCA is promoting the establishment of a separate organization (COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team) for vaccine introduction and vaccination.

 

Vaccine development has not yet been completed with respect to the vaccination timing, and there are still concerns about the safety and effectiveness, so it will be flexibly decided in consideration of ▲COVID-19 domestic situation ▲foreign vaccination trends and side effects ▲national demand.

 

The government is reviewing the recommended targets for vaccination (approximately 36 million people) for the elderly, the elderly, living in group facilities, chronic diseases, etc.

 

And it will be reviewed with relevant ministries.

 

However, the evidence of safety and efficacy for children and adolescents is still insufficient, but the future vaccination strategy will be reviewed through continuous monitoring of clinical trial results.

 

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said, “As the vaccine is still in the pre-development stage, and there are still uncertainties about success such as side effects during the vaccination process, we will pre-purchase more than the 30 million people announced by the government for public health and safety.” He said, “As it is expected that the domestic treatment currently being developed will be commercially available as early as next year, a more robust quarantine system can be established with prevention (COVID-19 vaccine)-rapid discovery and diagnosis-early treatment.” He stressed, "As it takes a considerable amount of time to complete the vaccination against the COVID-19 vaccine, the people need to strictly follow the quarantine guidelines, such as distancing in daily life, wearing masks, and refraining from going out."