890 Million Doses of AZ Vaccine to Arrive by Next Month... 835,000 Doses Delivered Today

Supply of Directly Imported AZ Vaccines from the 14th

Moderna Second Verification Also to Be Announced
Focus on CMO Production Status

In February, AstraZeneca vaccines produced at the SK Bioscience factory in Andong, Gyeongbuk, were loaded onto transport vehicles and escorted by the military and police while being transferred to storage warehouses. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] With the resumption of supply of the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine secured through the global vaccine joint procurement project COVAX Facility and direct imports, the domestic vaccine supply is expected to ease significantly.

According to health authorities on the 13th, 835,000 doses of COVAX AZ vaccine will arrive at Incheon International Airport at 7 p.m. on the same day. The vaccine was manufactured in Italy by the U.S. contract manufacturing organization (CMO) Catalent. This is half of the 1.67 million doses that the authorities announced would be introduced through COVAX in the first half of the year. The remaining doses will arrive next month.

On the 14th, the supply of AZ vaccines imported directly will also resume. They will be shipped directly from the SK Bioscience factory in Andong. A total of 7.23 million doses will be supplied sequentially until the first week of next month. Including the COVAX doses, a total of 8.9 million doses will be distributed domestically by next month.

Although the second dose of the AZ vaccine will be fully administered starting on the 14th, and vaccinations for the elderly aged 60-74, patients with chronic severe respiratory diseases, and teachers of kindergartens, daycare centers, and first and second graders in elementary schools will begin on the 27th, concerns about a "vaccine shortage" arose as it was revealed that only a small amount of AZ vaccine remains domestically. As of this day, it is estimated that only about 190,000 doses of AZ vaccine remain in the country. However, if the government’s vaccine import schedule is maintained, vaccinations are expected to proceed without major supply difficulties.

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The approval process for Moderna’s messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, which is expected to become the fourth COVID-19 vaccine approved domestically, is also progressing rapidly. On the morning of the same day, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Deliberation Committee, the second stage of the triple review for COVID-19 vaccine approval. The advisory results will be announced in the afternoon. The Ministry conducts reviews through a three-stage advisory process consisting of the COVID-19 vaccine and treatment verification advisory group, the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Deliberation Committee, and the final inspection committee.

Previously, the verification advisory group evaluated that the Moderna vaccine showed 94.1% preventive effectiveness 14 days after the second dose. It demonstrated consistent effectiveness in the elderly and patients with underlying conditions, and its safety was judged to be acceptable, so final approval is expected as early as next week.

Once the formal approval of the Moderna vaccine is completed, it is expected to become a key pipeline for domestic vaccine supply. Recently, Moderna has been establishing a subsidiary in Korea, and there is a high possibility of production through CMO domestically, which will enable stable supply. Companies considered as candidates for CMO contracts include GC Green Cross, Samsung Biologics, ST Pharm, and Hanmi Pharmaceutical, which are responsible for domestic approval procedures and distribution.

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