How Will the Remaining 800,000 Vaccine Doses Last Until the 14th?

Pfizer Vaccine First Dose Practically Halted
Government Says "Significant Supply Expected"

US FDA "Approval for Pfizer Vaccination for Ages 12-15 by Early Next Month"

Amid the imbalance in COVID-19 vaccine supply, Pfizer vaccines are stored in a vaccine-only refrigerator at the vaccination center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunwoo Lee, Chunhee Lee] Although the government announced a vaccination plan for 13 million people in the first half of the year, including the early procurement of 230,000 doses of the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine, concerns have arisen that a ‘vaccine cliff’ is inevitable until additional AZ vaccine supplies arrive on the 14th. There are also predictions that the first-dose vaccination schedule may be delayed due to the large number of second-dose recipients.

According to the government on the 4th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has raised its vaccination target from 12 million to 13 million people for the first half of the year. To achieve this, the government has advanced the delivery of 230,000 doses of the AZ vaccine, originally scheduled for the second half of the year, to the first half, confirming a total procurement of 18,318,000 vaccine doses. By vaccine type, there are 10,904,000 doses of AZ and 7,414,000 doses of Pfizer.

However, vaccination centers are increasingly suspending first-dose vaccinations except for existing reservations to secure second-dose Pfizer vaccines, and the AZ vaccine supply available for immediate use is also insufficient. As of the 4th, it is estimated that there are about 320,000 doses of AZ and 470,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines available domestically. This quantity is barely enough to cover second-dose vaccinations.

Pfizer vaccines are being delivered weekly via air shipments, with more than 250,000 doses arriving every Wednesday. On the 5th, 436,000 doses are expected to arrive. Since the government sharply increased the number of first-dose recipients at the end of last month to achieve the goal of vaccinating 3 million people in April, there are many concerns about whether the second-dose Pfizer vaccinations, which have a short interval of only three weeks, can proceed smoothly.

This week alone, about 280,000 people are scheduled for their second Pfizer dose, followed by 440,000 in the second week and 610,000 in the third week, totaling 1.33 million second-dose vaccinations. The government expects first-dose vaccinations to resume from the third week of May, but if vaccine supply issues arise, the resumption of Pfizer first-dose vaccinations may only be possible next month.

The 7.23 million doses of AZ vaccines contracted for direct procurement and scheduled to arrive on the 14th face a similar situation. Considering the 11 to 12-week interval for AZ vaccinations, second-dose vaccinations should begin in earnest on the same day. Since the government has announced it will apply the same policy as for Pfizer vaccines, there is a possibility that first-dose AZ vaccinations may be suspended to prioritize second doses.

Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said the day before, "Supplies will continue to arrive on a weekly basis," and "a significant amount will be secured to ensure no disruption to vaccinations." However, he did not disclose specific weekly quantities. The government only provides the total procurement volume for the first half of the year, citing confidentiality agreements with pharmaceutical companies, and does not disclose detailed delivery schedules.

Meanwhile, on the 3rd (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing U.S. government officials, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to approve Pfizer vaccinations for adolescents aged 12 to 15 as early as next week.

Once FDA approval is granted, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to hold a vaccine advisory meeting to issue vaccination recommendations, followed immediately by the start of vaccinations. On the same day, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) also announced it would review the approval of Pfizer vaccines for those aged 12 and older and announce its decision next month.

Currently, Pfizer vaccines are administered to individuals aged 16 and older in both the United States and the European Union (EU). Earlier, on the 31st of last month, Pfizer released a statement reporting initial results from a Phase 3 clinical trial involving 2,260 adolescents aged 12 to 15 in the U.S., showing 100% effectiveness in preventing COVID-19, and applied for FDA approval for vaccination.

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