Vaccine Cooperation Achieved with Romania... Pfizer 1.05 Million, Moderna 450,000 Doses Introduced

Vaccine bottles labeled Moderna, Janssen, and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Through international cooperation with Romania, 1,503,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be introduced into the country this month.

On the 1st, Lee Ki-il, the 1st Controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Director of Health and Medical Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare), announced at the regular COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters briefing, "1,053,000 doses of Pfizer and 450,000 doses of Moderna vaccines are scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport from Romania in two shipments on the 2nd and 8th."

The Pfizer vaccines will be introduced in two shipments of 526,500 doses each on the 2nd and 8th, and the Moderna vaccines will be introduced on the 8th. The Pfizer vaccines are being purchased, while the Moderna vaccines are being provided through a mutual donation (swap) method, where Romania donates the vaccines and Korea provides necessary medical supplies to Romania in return. The controller explained, "There have been several cases of vaccine sales contracts between countries within Europe, and sufficient consultations were held between Pfizer Korea and Pfizer Romania."

The vaccines introduced this time are separate from the vaccines the government has already contracted with Pfizer and Moderna. This is an additional quantity on top of the 66 million doses of Pfizer and 40 million doses of Moderna that the government has contracted. It is also separate from the 6 million doses of Moderna vaccines that the government announced would be introduced within this week. The controller said, "We are continuously consulting with Moderna regarding the detailed introduction schedule of these vaccines."

In response to the controversy over the expiration dates that arose following reports of vaccine imports from Romania, the health authorities unusually disclosed the manufacturing sites and expiration dates of the vaccines in advance. The Pfizer vaccines are produced in Belgium and can be used until the 30th of this month, and the Moderna vaccines are produced by ROVI in Spain and can be used from November 12 to December 5.

The controller explained, "As mentioned, the expiration date of the Pfizer vaccines is until the 30th of this month," adding, "The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will receive them and include them immediately in the vaccination plan, so they can be administered sufficiently." He also added that during the previous Pfizer vaccine swap with Israel, vaccines with an expiration date of July 30 were brought in after the contract on July 6, and they were still able to be administered sufficiently. Regarding the incident of foreign substances found in Moderna vaccines produced in Spain and distributed in Japan, he affirmed, "It is true that the vaccines to be introduced are from ROVI in Spain, but they are from different batches, so there is no concern about foreign substances."

Both vaccines will be used for vaccinations of people aged 18 to 49 as soon as they are supplied domestically. The controller said, "We expect that the additional supply of vaccines will provide more flexibility in the vaccination plan."

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