'Silent War' to Secure COVID-19 Vaccines... Government Announces "Two-Track Response"

Partnering with Leading Developers and Moving Toward Participation in Global Group Purchasing

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The "war without gunfire" to secure vaccines, the only way to end the battle against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has begun worldwide. Our government plans to partner with multinational pharmaceutical companies that are developing vaccines at the fastest pace globally, while also securing as much domestic supply as possible through global joint purchases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 23rd, more than 150 vaccine candidates are currently being developed worldwide, and 23 have entered human trials. Our government has succeeded in securing the vaccine candidate "AZD1222" from the UK-based AstraZeneca, which was the first to enter Phase 3 clinical trials.

According to the memorandum of understanding signed on the 21st by the Ministry of Health and Welfare with AstraZeneca and SK Bioscience, SK Bioscience will produce the raw material domestically and supply it to AstraZeneca. If the vaccine development is successful, AstraZeneca plans to distribute it as a finished product.

The key point of this contract is that AstraZeneca will provide some of the vaccines it produces to the domestic market. Kim Kang-lip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, explained, "We agreed on the intention to work together to distribute as much as possible of the domestically produced quantity to our citizens."

Our government is also considering participating in global vaccine co-development and distribution. By joining the global vaccine supply system (COVAX Facility) promoted by WHO and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), it aims to jointly develop vaccines as international public goods and have a voice in establishing supply order. Vice Minister Kim said, "If this proceeds, we will be able to provide various supports, including financial assistance, to the international community's joint vaccine development efforts."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The most prominent country in the vaccine securing race is the United States. On the 22nd (local time), the U.S. government decided to invest $1.95 billion (about 2.3 trillion KRW) in the vaccine jointly developed by global pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German BioNTech. Through this, it will first receive 100 million doses and secure an additional 500 million doses. If efficacy and safety are proven in Phase 3 clinical trials, Americans will be vaccinated free of charge. The U.S. had previously contracted for 300 million doses with AstraZeneca and also signed supply contracts with Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and others.

AstraZeneca, expected to be available for vaccination as early as the beginning of next year, is receiving love calls worldwide. AstraZeneca's vaccine production target is 2 billion doses annually, and 800 million doses already have designated owners. In addition to Korea, the U.S., and the UK, it has formed a "comprehensive vaccine alliance" with four countries: France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Brazil secured 100 million doses by investing about 150 billion KRW regardless of AstraZeneca's Phase 3 clinical trial results. Japan's Daiichi Sankyo receives raw materials from AstraZeneca and produces the vaccine in its own facilities, similar to SK Bioscience. SK Bioscience is the sixth company to win a contract for COVID-19 vaccine contract manufacturing from AstraZeneca.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.