'Next Month's Vaccination' Pfizer Vaccine Arrives at Central Vaccination Center: "Safe Transportation is Key"

'Individual Contract' Pfizer Vaccine 250,000 Doses Arrive in Korea on the 24th
11,700 Doses Transported to National Medical Center Vaccination Site

A total of 250,000 doses (500,000 shots) of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for elderly people aged 75 and over have arrived in the country. On the 24th, the chief pharmacist at the Central Vaccination Center is checking the Pfizer vaccine at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The Pfizer vaccine, which will begin administration next month on the 1st for the elderly aged 75 and over, arrived in South Korea through Incheon Airport on the 24th. Unlike the doses previously imported through the COVAX Facility, this batch was secured through an individual contract by the government and represents half of the 500,000 doses scheduled for delivery within this month.

The Pfizer vaccines brought into the country this morning were transported by vehicle and moved to the National Medical Center (NMC) around noon. Upon arrival, Kang Ji-eun, the chief pharmacist at the Central Vaccination Center, checked the sealing seals on the front and back of the vehicle tanks and received documents from a UPS employee, the air cargo logistics company.

As the military police removed the seal on the front left tank, the unloading of the vaccines officially began. Chief pharmacist Kang and the UPS employee verified the number of boxes containing the vaccines and their sealed status before unloading proceeded.

Since the Pfizer vaccine is sensitive to shaking, the transportation was carried out very slowly and carefully. The vaccines were delivered to the D building office and then moved to a separate freezer-only storage room.

A shipment of 250,000 doses (500,000 shots) of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for seniors aged 75 and older has arrived in South Korea. On the 24th, pharmacists at the Central Vaccination Center at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, are moving the Pfizer vaccines. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

A total of 250,000 doses (500,000 shots) of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for elderly people aged 75 and over have arrived in the country. On the 24th, a pharmacist at the Central Vaccination Center at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, stored the Pfizer vaccine in a freezer and recorded the temperature. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Less than five minutes after the vaccines arrived at the center, the boxes containing the vaccines began to be opened. Staff at the center, wearing safety goggles and gloves, checked Pfizer’s proprietary thermometer before starting the unboxing. This thermometer allows continuous communication with Pfizer headquarters regarding the vaccine’s temperature. After removing the dry ice from the box, the staff immediately transferred the vaccines to the freezer.

During the opening of the second box, an issue arose where the thermometer would not turn off. Upon encountering this problem, Chief Pharmacist Kang attempted to contact Pfizer. Kang explained, “The thermometer records data at Pfizer Central. When receiving the vaccines, the thermometer should be turned off and a report obtained, but since the thermometer would not turn off, we are trying to confirm with Pfizer whether there is an abnormality.”

Because confirmation was needed from Pfizer in Singapore regarding whether the vaccine temperature had been recorded, the unboxing was delayed. After waiting about 30 minutes, Kang said, “When opening, Pfizer Central is supposed to stop temperature monitoring, but there was a connection issue. We confirmed through the Singapore branch that there was no problem with the temperature and are proceeding with the unboxing.” It took about one minute to remove the vaccines from the boxes and place them into the freezer for storage.

A shipment of 250,000 doses (500,000 shots) of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, intended for vaccination of seniors aged 75 and older, has arrived in South Korea. On the 24th, a pharmacist at the Central Vaccination Center at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, is turning off the temperature recording device on a box containing Pfizer vaccines. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The vaccines delivered to NMC that day amounted to 1,950 vials, equivalent to approximately 11,700 doses.

Park Young-dal, Deputy Commander and Inspector of the Traffic Patrol Unit who participated in the escort, said, “The principle is to transport the vaccines as safely as possible, and we are especially careful to avoid traffic accidents with regular vehicles.” He added, “As vaccines continue to arrive, we ask the public not to worry and to actively participate in vaccination.”

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