Jung Sye-kyun: "AstraZeneca Vaccine First Dose at End of This Month... Pfizer to Be Introduced in Late February to Early March"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (center) is speaking while presiding over a meeting to review the status of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the afternoon of the 9th. February 9, 2021.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 9th regarding the COVID-19 vaccination plan, "The first vaccinations will begin at the end of this month using the AstraZeneca vaccine produced domestically in Korea," and added, "The Pfizer vaccine through the COVAX Facility is expected to be introduced domestically by the end of February or early March."

It was previously expected that the Pfizer vaccine would be introduced the earliest, with the timing reported as "mid-February," so it appears that the schedule has been somewhat delayed and there have been changes to the plan.

On the afternoon of the same day, Prime Minister Chung chaired the "8th COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutics Situation Review Meeting" at the Government Complex Sejong and said, "There are concerns about whether the vaccines we contracted will be delivered on time due to recent production disruptions by global pharmaceutical companies and competition among countries to secure vaccines," adding, "Regardless of which vaccine starts the first vaccinations, we are meticulously preparing the entire process from introduction, transportation, storage, to the first vaccination according to the vaccination plan we have prepared so far."

He also stated, "Tomorrow, the final review committee of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will hold a meeting to decide on the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine," and "Next week, based on the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's decision, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Vaccination Expert Committee will discuss the vaccination plan for the AstraZeneca vaccine."

Furthermore, he urged, "Since vaccinations must be conducted transparently based on scientific evidence, I ask the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to promptly and transparently inform the public of the discussion results," and added, "Please swiftly correct misinformation and fake news and respond strictly to prevent unnecessary public anxiety from spreading."

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