Vaccination Plan Revision? Additional Introduction Next Year? ... Government "Emergency Vaccine Briefing This Afternoon" (Update)

Jungsubon "This Afternoon Briefing on Vaccine Introduction and Vaccination Plan"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government will hold an emergency briefing on the afternoon of the 9th regarding the status of COVID-19 vaccine imports and vaccination plans.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the COVID-19 vaccine briefing that day, "The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) briefing scheduled for this afternoon will include announcements on the vaccine import status and vaccination plans, so the Minister of Health and Welfare and the Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will hold a joint briefing."

The quarantine authorities have typically announced the COVID-19 outbreak situation and vaccination status through regular briefings at 2:10 p.m. on weekdays. On this day, Director Jeong Eun-kyeong of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency was scheduled to give the briefing, but Minister Kwon Deok-cheol of the Ministry of Health and Welfare will also attend. The briefing location has also been changed from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Osong, Chungbuk, to the Government Complex Sejong.

It is expected that the emergency briefing will provide information on the additional vaccine quantities to be imported and the target groups for vaccination using these vaccines. So far, the vaccines secured by our government include five types: AstraZeneca, Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax, totaling 193 million doses. Except for Novavax, which has not yet received approval for use, vaccinations are currently being administered with the other four vaccines.

Since the government has repeatedly emphasized that it has secured sufficient quantities to achieve herd immunity (70% of the population) this year, there is also speculation that the briefing will announce vaccine imports for next year's booster shots. Previously, the government stated that negotiations for importing 50 million doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for next year's vaccinations are in the final stages.

Some speculate that there may be changes in the vaccine import quantities, which could lead to partial revisions of the already announced vaccination plans, including target groups.

Son said, "It is necessary to explain the import quantities and vaccination plans," but added, "It is difficult to provide specific details."

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