US and South Korea Health Ministers to Meet on 22nd to Discuss 'COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership'

Meeting with Xavier Becerra, US Secretary of Health... 3 PM Local Time on the 21st
"A Great Opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation in Health Sector... Will Achieve Results"
Expected to Sign MOU for Vaccine Contract Manufacturing with Moderna and Others

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] The health ministers of South Korea and the United States will meet in the U.S. on the 22nd to discuss bilateral cooperation in the health sector, including COVID-19 vaccine collaboration.

Before departing for the U.S. on the 21st, where the Korea-U.S. summit will be held, Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "I think this is a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Korea and the U.S. in the health sector," adding, "A Korea-U.S. health ministers' meeting is scheduled." He continued, "We will discuss ways to enhance cooperation in various health and medical fields and strive to achieve results."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the meeting between Minister Kwon and U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra will take place at 3 p.m. local time on the 21st, which is 4 a.m. on the 22nd Korean time.

The ministerial meeting is expected to specifically discuss vaccine cooperation measures. This is because the "COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership" was one of the main agenda items at the first summit between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden.

It is anticipated that broad discussions will be held on plans such as establishing a "Global Vaccine Production Hub," where South Korea plays a central role in COVID-19 vaccine production, securing vaccines through "vaccine swaps," and domestic vaccine production via technology transfer. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Minister Kwon has also scheduled meetings with U.S. vaccine pharmaceutical companies for additional COVID-19 vaccine purchases and technology cooperation.

The government is also reportedly planning to sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) promising cooperation on vaccine contract manufacturing with Moderna and Novavax. John Rim, CEO of Samsung Biologics, which is negotiating contract manufacturing with Moderna, and Ahn Jae-yong, CEO of SK Bioscience, currently producing AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines under contract, have also departed for the U.S.

Lee Kang-ho, Director General of the Health Industry Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, accompanied Minister Kwon. It is analyzed that cooperation measures across the health and medical industry, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices, may also be discussed beyond COVID-19 response.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to explain the results of the U.S. visit in a separate briefing later.

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