'COVID-19 Vaccine' First Shipment from Andong Factory … Prime Minister Jeong Seyeon "First Step to Normal Life Recovery"

Transfer from SK Bio Andong Plant to Icheon Logistics Complex on the morning of the 24th
150,000 doses ... Vaccination starts at 9 AM on the 26th

On the morning of the 24th, AstraZeneca vaccines produced at the SK Bioscience factory in Andong, Gyeongbuk, were loaded onto transport vehicles and escorted by the military and police as they were moved to storage facilities. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] The first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines consigned and produced at the SK Bioscience factory in Andong, Gyeongbuk, departed on the morning of the 24th for the logistics center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Over 100 police officers, including special forces and mobile units, were deployed for the transport operation.

At around 9:50 a.m. that day, a vaccine shipment ceremony was held with about 50 attendees, including Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, SK Vice Chairman Choi Chang-won, and executives from AstraZeneca Korea.

The vaccines loaded onto a 30-ton truck amounted to 300,000 doses, enough for 150,000 people (one dose equals one vaccination). This is the first batch out of the 750,000 doses (1.5 million shots) to be shipped in the first phase.

The vaccines moved to the Icheon logistics center in Gyeonggi will be redistributed nationwide starting from the 25th, one day later. However, vaccines will be delivered to the Ulleungdo region on the 26th. Nationwide, residents and workers under 65 years old in nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, and mental health and rehabilitation facilities will begin vaccinations from 9 a.m. on the 26th.

After presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office that day, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun visited the shipment site and received a report from the transport support team in front of the vaccine transport vehicles heading to the Icheon logistics center.

Before the shipment ceremony, Prime Minister Chung, who chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office, emphasized, "With the vaccines shipped today, the historic first vaccinations will begin the day after tomorrow," adding, "We are finally taking the first step toward the long-awaited recovery of daily life."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, SK Vice Chairman Choi Chang-won, executives from AstraZeneca Korea, and about 50 others are seen participating in a vaccine shipment event on the 24th.

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