Emergency in Securing COVID-19 Vaccines... "Full Authority Must Be Granted to Director Jeong Eun-kyung"

[Expert Opinion]
Urgent Negotiations with Global Pharmaceutical Companies Needed
Active Procurement Must Begin Now
Vaccines Are Savings... Prepare for Next Winter
Vaccination Plans Must Be Refined Meticulously

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Choi Dae-yeol] Although the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) fluctuates daily in the thousands, domestic vaccination is expected to begin no earlier than February or March next year, prompting increasing calls for the government to take a more proactive approach to vaccine procurement.

With major advanced countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom having simultaneously started vaccinations and some countries already securing vaccines through advance purchases, there is a growing sense of crisis that delaying vaccine procurement could lead to another harsh winter next year similar to this year. Experts argue that final contracts with Pfizer, Moderna, and others, in addition to AstraZeneca, should be completed within this month, and negotiations with global pharmaceutical companies like Novavax should also be expedited.

"Vaccines Are Savings" Procurement Must Be Hastened

Professor Jeong Ki-seok of Hallym University’s Department of Respiratory Medicine (former Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) pointed out in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 21st that the failure to secure COVID-19 vaccines early was a government blunder. Professor Jeong said, "Vaccines are like savings," adding, "Even if there is abundance now, preparing for the future is like saving."

He noted that there was a tendency to be complacent due to the globally praised K-quarantine model, which led to inadequate future preparedness. He said, "The idea that vaccine procurement can be slow because confirmed cases are only 100 to 200 is medically completely wrong," and added, "Since Korea does not yet have its own vaccine technology and must import vaccines from other countries, the delay in vaccine procurement is problematic."

In particular, Professor Jeong emphasized that in the situation where COVID-19 confirmed cases continue to surge into four digits, full authority should be granted to Jeong Eun-kyeong, the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, to lead major quarantine policies including vaccine procurement. Having served as the Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, Professor Jeong proposed, "All policies related to quarantine should be coordinated by Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong, and the command authority of the quarantine headquarters should be given to her."

On the morning of the 21st, medical staff are undergoing COVID-19 diagnostic testing at the screening clinic of Gwangju Christian Hospital in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. After medical staff and inpatients at Gwangju Christian Hospital tested positive for COVID-19, some wards were closed on the same day.

"Rising Public Fatigue" Prepare for Next Winter

Experts urged the government to accelerate vaccine administration to avoid repeating a winter like this year. Professor Jeon Byung-yul of CHA University School of Medicine said, "Public fatigue due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has reached its peak," and added, "To prevent a recurrence of this year’s situation next year, although it is late, vaccine procurement and administration must be expedited now."

He also advised securing additional vaccines since vaccine efficacy has not yet been fully verified. Professor Jeon said, "COVID-19 vaccines do not provide lasting immunity with just one dose, and the duration of immunity varies by vaccine, so it is necessary to secure as much supply as possible in advance," adding, "Since the effectiveness of vaccines is being proven in countries that have already started vaccinations, the government should carefully review the vaccination target groups and secure additional quantities as needed."

Professor Kim Woo-joo of Korea University Guro Hospital’s Department of Infectious Diseases said, "Even if all 10 million doses currently secured are administered, it only covers about 20% of the entire population, so achieving herd immunity and ending the epidemic is unlikely before the first half of next year."

On the 20th (local time), Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines were being packed into boxes at the distribution facility of McKesson, a pharmaceutical distributor located in Olive Branch, Mississippi, USA. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which was granted emergency use authorization for the second time by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), began shipping nationwide on this day.

Vaccination Plans Must Be Refined

However, since vaccinations are expected to begin only around February or March next year, there is an expectation that domestic vaccination plans can be refined by observing overseas vaccination progress.

With heightened interest in vaccines, there is a risk that mild side effects or unrelated adverse events may be exaggerated, potentially sending wrong signals to future vaccine recipients and lowering vaccination rates. Professor Jeong Jae-hoon of Gachon University Gil Medical Center’s Department of Preventive Medicine said, "In the United States alone, over 550,000 people have already been vaccinated, and at this level, concerns about short-term side effects are minimal," adding, "The government needs to consistently convey the message that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective."

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