"Additional Vaccine Procurement" Opposition to Government: "Lack of Transparency and Specificity in Supply Plan"

Even with 'Vaccine Contracts' Secured... Opposition Criticizes Timing, Price Terms, and More

Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Despite the government's announcement of an additional purchase contract for the Pfizer vaccine, the opposition criticized the lack of sufficient information provided to the public regarding the timing, price, and supply of vaccines. There were also calls to prepare vaccine supply plans not only for this year but also for the years beyond.

On the 26th, Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, met with reporters after the National Assembly Emergency Committee meeting and was asked about the government's additional purchase contract for 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. He said, "It is fortunate that the Pfizer vaccine was secured, albeit belatedly, but the government caused much confusion by not properly recognizing the importance of securing vaccines and wavering." He criticized, "There has been no explanation to the public about when the 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be introduced or under what price conditions."

According to the government-wide vaccine procurement task force on the 25th, the government signed an additional purchase contract for 40 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with Pfizer the day before. However, Acting Leader Joo criticized the lack of transparency in the vaccine supply plan. He stated, "The vaccine procurement is still not transparent and is causing anxiety," and added, "The government should be more transparent about when the vaccines will arrive in our country and under what price conditions."

People's Party Supreme Council Meeting

The People’s Party also insisted on the need to announce a concrete vaccine procurement plan. Choi Yeon-sook, a Supreme Council member of the People’s Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "It is fortunate that additional quantities were secured as a precaution, but that does not mean the immediate problems have been solved."

She said, "It is more urgent that the previously secured quantities be supplied on time and that the public actively participate in vaccinations," adding, "Although the government announced an additional supply contract, the specific schedule for vaccine introduction remains uncertain."

She further stated, "The United States and the European Union (EU) have gone beyond preparing booster shots and are securing additional vaccine quantities for 2022 to 2023," and emphasized, "The government must establish and implement vaccine plans beyond this year."

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