Securing 30 Million Doses of Pfizer Vaccine Next Year... Additional 30 Million Doses 'Option' If Needed

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine [Image Source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The government has finalized the procurement of 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine for next year. If additional supply is needed depending on the situation, an 'option' to purchase an additional 30 million doses has also been included.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), stated at the COVID-19 regular briefing on the 13th, "The government signed a contract today (the 13th) with Pfizer Korea to purchase 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and an option for an additional 30 million doses to secure the vaccines needed for COVID-19 vaccination in 2022 at an early stage."

The government set a goal to procure a total of 50 million messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine doses next year, enough for 50 million people to receive one additional booster shot. This contract is part of the goal to secure 50 million doses, with the purchase agreement for 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Director Jung explained, "The confirmed 30 million doses are scheduled to be supplied sequentially starting from the first quarter of next year," and "The 30 million doses specified as an option can be additionally purchased if deemed necessary." He added that the option exercise deadline is until the end of next year, and there is no price difference between the general contract and the option contract.

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