Jeong Eun-kyung: "Vaccine Supply Disruption Due to Europe's Export Authorization System and India's Export Suspension" (Update)

AstraZeneca Introduction Delayed... Janssen, Novavax, and Moderna Schedules Not Yet Confirmed

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[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Concerns are growing that domestic vaccine supply may be disrupted due to the European Union (EU)'s COVID-19 vaccine export authorization system and India's export suspension.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 29th, "The 690,000 doses of the COVAX AstraZeneca vaccine originally scheduled for shipment on the 31st have been changed to 432,000 doses to be introduced in the third week of April as the first batch."

Jung explained, "This is due to the delay in the supply schedule of AstraZeneca doses produced by the Serum Institute of India, which were to be distributed to low-income countries through COVAX, and is a policy to supply vaccines to all participating countries in the first half of the year."

She added, "Regarding the remaining AstraZeneca doses to be introduced, we have notified that they will be supplied in May if possible, but that schedule is also subject to change. We will inform you once the schedule is confirmed."

The government has not yet finalized the specific supply schedule for Janssen, Novavax, and Moderna vaccines planned for introduction in the second quarter.

Jung said, "In a highly constrained situation with global uncertainties in vaccine production and supply, we are making efforts at the inter-ministerial level to increase the vaccination speed and expand vaccine import volumes to prevent interruptions in vaccination. We will promptly inform the public once specific schedules are confirmed and additionally reflect them in the vaccination implementation plan."

Currently, vaccine manufacturers within the EU must obtain approval from member states and the EU Commission for exports outside the region. Recently, the government requested cooperation from the EU, expressing concerns that such measures could disrupt domestic COVID-19 vaccine supply.

From the 1st, Pfizer Vaccinations for Those Aged 75 and Older Begin at 49 Vaccination Centers

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, starting from the 1st of next month, Pfizer vaccinations for seniors aged 75 and older will begin at 49 COVID-19 vaccination centers.

This vaccination will use individually contracted Pfizer vaccines, with a total supply of 3.5 million doses scheduled by June. The first batch of 500,000 doses, introduced on the 24th, has completed national release approval and will be supplied to vaccination centers on the 30th.

An additional 500,000 doses are planned to arrive at Incheon Airport on the 31st. Furthermore, 6 million doses scheduled for the second quarter will be introduced sequentially, including 1 million doses in April and 1.75 million doses in May.

Vaccinations for residents and workers (regardless of age) in elderly care facilities will also be conducted simultaneously at regional vaccination centers.

To this end, the government is establishing vaccination plans for each local government, conducting surveys of vaccination candidates among seniors aged 75 and older and elderly care facilities, and registering candidates.

According to the Promotion Team, as of 1 p.m. on the 28th, vaccination candidate surveys have been completed for about 2.04 million out of approximately 3.51 million seniors aged 75 and older, with 1.76 million (86.1%) consenting to vaccination.

Additionally, the Promotion Team, in cooperation with local governments (Incheon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Chungnam, Jeju) and the Ministry of National Defense, is preparing separate measures for seniors living in island areas who have difficulty visiting vaccination centers.

Jung stated, "If you have applied for the 'National Secretary Service' during the vaccination candidate survey, you can receive information related to vaccination, such as individual vaccination schedules, locations, and precautions, via mobile apps (Naver app, KakaoTalk, Toss) or text messages." She added, "Vaccinations for seniors living in island areas will be carried out concurrently with vaccinations for those aged 65 to 74 in May, using vaccines that are convenient for distribution and storage."

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