[W Forum] Vaccine War, Do We Know Our Position?

Shin Hyun-young, Member of the National Assembly of the Democratic Party of Korea

In short, the world is currently engaged in a vaccine war. Although there are no visible guns or gunpowder, the entire globe is struggling to secure vaccines to escape the virus war. As expected, there are no exceptions when it comes to war. Based on nationalism and vaccine nationalism, the law of the jungle is reflected in the competition for vaccination rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) Secretary-General criticized the hoarding of vaccines by wealthy countries as a "moral failure operation of the world."

The United States is a country that develops and produces Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines, while the United Kingdom develops and produces the AstraZeneca vaccine. It is natural for these countries to have an advantage in securing vaccines. In Israel, where reports show people removing masks outdoors, it was possible to receive priority supply of the Pfizer vaccine in exchange for providing COVID-19 data.

Where does the Republic of Korea stand in the vaccine war? Korea has factories producing AstraZeneca and Sputnik V vaccines, enabling contract manufacturing, and is preparing for technology transfer and domestic production of Novavax. There is also a possibility that a Moderna factory will be established in Korea. A former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly valued Korea’s potential as a vaccine hub in Asia.

Let’s also look at the status of domestic vaccine development. Five Korean companies are conducting Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, and it is expected that Phase 3 trials and emergency approval could be possible as early as the latter half of this year. Amid the emergence of various variants and uncertainties about the duration of immunity, the possibility of a third booster shot is being raised, offering hope for securing vaccine sovereignty.

Nevertheless, Koreans’ vaccine self-esteem remains relatively weak. I recall something I heard when visiting a foreign embassy: "Koreans need to strengthen their pride and self-esteem as citizens of an advanced and promising Republic of Korea." At least regarding COVID-19 vaccines, let’s not blame ourselves too much for the current insufficient supply. Rather than self-blame and criticism, let’s ask the government why it could not secure vaccines faster, what needs to change to enable more bold procurement and development, and demand alternative proposals. The answers to these questions will lay a solid foundation for making Korea a country resilient to infectious diseases in this era of recurring pandemics.

It is the beginning of May. By June, 12 million vaccine doses are expected to arrive, allowing vaccination of 23% of the population. Now, it is necessary to review the vaccination system for efficient vaccine administration, minimize wastage, strengthen adverse reaction monitoring, and establish a system where the state actively takes responsibility and compensates for side effects. Additionally, government efforts are needed to introduce vaccine incentive programs and vaccine leave policies so that people with irregular jobs or special employment who find it difficult to take time off can also get vaccinated. It is also important for healthcare workers and citizens who have already been vaccinated to create a vaccine encouragement culture for the unvaccinated through a nationwide vaccination campaign.

It is now the second year of COVID-19. Public expectations for government policies have risen significantly. The virus war is not over until it is truly over, and we already know that it may never end and that we may have to live with it. In an ecosystem where viruses and humanity coexist, it is time for citizens to once again demonstrate their capabilities so that human life can become truly human again in the era of the new normal.

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