Government "Additional Contract for 20 Million Pfizer Vaccine Doses... Securing 99 Million Doses This Year" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As concerns over the supply of COVID-19 vaccines persist, the government has signed an additional purchase contract for 20 million doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.

As a result, the total number of vaccine doses secured by South Korea this year has increased to 192 million doses (99 million people). This amount is enough to vaccinate 2.75 times the target of 36 million people needed to achieve herd immunity.

The Pan-Government Vaccine Procurement Task Force (Team Leader: Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare) announced on the 24th that it had signed an additional purchase contract for 40 million doses (20 million people) of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine.

Since forming the Pan-Government Vaccine Procurement Task Force on the 1st to address COVID-19 vaccine supply issues, the government has continued diplomatic efforts, including meetings with various vaccine manufacturers. On the 9th and 23rd, Kwon Deok-cheol, the Task Force leader, held video conferences with Pfizer.

This year, Pfizer vaccines will be supplied in a total of 66 million doses, combining the initially contracted 26 million doses with the additional 40 million doses. Considering the two-dose regimen, this secures vaccines for 33 million people.

So far, 1.75 million doses of Pfizer vaccine have been supplied, and including this, 7 million doses are expected to be delivered by the end of June. From the third quarter, 59 million doses will be supplied sequentially.

Accordingly, the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses secured by South Korea this year has increased to 192 million doses (99 million people).

This amount is approximately 1.9 times the entire population of South Korea and enough to vaccinate 2.75 times the target of 36 million people for herd immunity.

The Task Force explained that although the initially contracted vaccines this year totaled 79 million people’s doses, sufficient for herd immunity, the additional purchase lays the foundation to accelerate the achievement of herd immunity.

It also prepares for international vaccine supply uncertainties and potential additional demand, such as third-dose booster shots and expanding vaccination eligibility to those under 18, to respond to variant viruses.

First, the government plans to make every effort to achieve the vaccination target of 12 million people with the 18.09 million doses confirmed for delivery by the end of June.

Currently, 3.87 million doses of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have been supplied, and a total of 18.09 million doses are expected to be delivered by the end of the second quarter.

The government plans to strengthen pan-government cooperation to supply up to 20.8 million doses by additionally procuring some doses of Novavax, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines within the first half of the year.

From July, not only AstraZeneca and Pfizer but also Novavax, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines are expected to be supplied in earnest.

The agreed volume by the end of September is about 80 million doses, and combined with the first half supply, approximately 100 million doses will be delivered by the end of September.

This amount is enough to vaccinate over 50 million people, and if supply proceeds smoothly, the doses available by the end of September alone will be sufficient to vaccinate all 44 million people aged 18 and over.

Kwon Deok-cheol, Task Force leader, said, "The government will spare no effort in quarantine, vaccine procurement, and vaccination to restore the precious daily lives of the people," and added, "We earnestly ask the public to trust and actively cooperate with the government's plans and guidance on vaccine procurement and vaccination."

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