EU Sweeps Up 1.8 Billion Doses from Pfizer... Could It Hinder South Korea's Vaccine Procurement?

European Union (EU) Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned an additional contract for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during her visit to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine factory in Puurs, Belgium, on the 23rd (local time).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The European Union (EU) announced that it has signed a vaccine supply contract with Pfizer, the largest single contract to date, for 1.8 billion doses. This is in preparation for the need for booster shots (third doses) to maintain immunity after vaccination, which is unwelcome news for countries seeking to secure additional Pfizer vaccines.

According to Reuters on the 23rd (local time), the EU has contracted to receive an additional 1.8 billion doses of Pfizer vaccines by 2023. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated during a visit to a Pfizer vaccine factory that "this contract is to secure booster shot supplies to maintain COVID-19 immunity."

President von der Leyen had previously announced that negotiations had begun with Pfizer-BioNTech for a new contract to supply 1.8 billion doses of vaccines from 2021 to 2023.

The 1.8 billion doses of Pfizer vaccines, which require two doses per person, are enough to vaccinate 900 million people in total. Considering the EU's total population of 450 million, Reuters reported that this quantity is sufficient for everyone to receive vaccinations over two years.

This is the third contract between the EU and Pfizer, with the previous two contracts each covering 300 million doses.

AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, as the competition among countries to secure vaccines intensifies, South Korea is facing an emergency. Early introduction of existing supplies is urgent, but the country is also at risk of falling behind in securing additional doses for booster shots (third doses).

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 23rd, South Korea has directly contracted for 13 million doses with Pfizer. Of these, 3.5 million doses are confirmed for delivery in the first half of the year, but only 875,000 doses (6.7%) have been received so far. The health authorities stated that the remaining 2.625 million doses are scheduled to be delivered sequentially by June. However, the schedule for deliveries after the third quarter (July to September) is not yet confirmed on a monthly basis.

Most Moderna vaccines are also expected to arrive after the third quarter. South Korea has contracted for a total of 20 million doses of Moderna vaccines, and the government is reportedly negotiating to secure additional mRNA vaccines, including Pfizer and Moderna. However, it is uncertain whether early delivery will be possible even if contracts are successful.

The global supply shortage of AstraZeneca vaccines is also a concern. South Korea has directly contracted for 10 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. Of these, 787,000 doses arrived in February. The confirmed AstraZeneca vaccine deliveries for the first half of the year total 4.287 million doses, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated that the remaining 3.5 million doses are also scheduled to be delivered sequentially by June.

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