Expectations for 'Vaccine Diplomacy'... Will Vaccinations Expand in the First Half of the Year?

Candidates under 30, including healthcare workers, unable to receive AZ vaccine due to age restrictions

Possibility of vaccination for people in their 50s if additional supply secured

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Expectations are growing that the supply of COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea will accelerate as South Korea and the United States agreed to discuss ways to strengthen vaccine cooperation during their summit. There is potential for the early introduction of 2.71 million doses of Moderna and Janssen vaccines in the first half of the year, in addition to the vaccine swap between the two countries. If vaccine supply expands, the number of vaccination targets in the first half of the year is also expected to increase beyond the original plan.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the 20th, a total of 18.32 million doses (8.16 million people) of AstraZeneca (AZ) and Pfizer vaccines are scheduled to be introduced domestically in the first half of the year. Excluding the quantities already delivered, 3.688 million doses of Pfizer vaccine and 5.565 million doses of AZ vaccine will be sequentially supplied by June. Additionally, 2.71 million doses of Novavax, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines are expected to be supplied in the first half, but specific schedules and quantities are still under negotiation.

Following this summit, it is anticipated that early introduction of Pfizer, Moderna, and Janssen vaccines will be facilitated through vaccine swaps. This method involves receiving vaccines from the U.S. first and repaying them in the second half of the year when supply is relatively more flexible. Currently, the supply volume of Pfizer vaccines for the first half is confirmed, but the supply for the third quarter remains uncertain. Although 20 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, which is in the final stages of domestic approval, have been contracted, no confirmed delivery schedule has been announced yet.

If more COVID-19 vaccines than planned are supplied during the remaining first half, the scope of vaccination targets, which has been focused on medical institutions, essential social workers, and the elderly aged 60 and above, is expected to expand. First, those under 30 years old, including first responders to COVID-19, medical institution workers, and special and health teachers, are likely to be added to the list. These individuals were originally prioritized for vaccination but could not receive the AZ vaccine due to concerns about rare blood clots in younger people.

If more doses are secured through negotiations, the vaccination schedule for people in their 50s may be moved up. Furthermore, as the government is pushing for full school reopening by September, teachers of elementary, middle, and high schools who were not included in the first half vaccination target list may also be prioritized for discussion.

Above all, the expansion of supply of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which face less social resistance, is expected to help achieve vaccination goals earlier. Health authorities have set a goal to reduce COVID-19 deaths by focusing on vaccinating the elderly, starting in July, but are struggling to increase vaccination reservation rates. Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), said in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the same day, "The vaccination reservation rate for seniors aged 60 to 74 is currently 50.1%, showing a slowdown in the increase rate from 42.9% on the 17th, 47.2% on the 18th, and 49.5% on the 19th. We are very concerned that the recovery of daily life through vaccination may be delayed due to low participation rates."

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