KDCA Holds Meeting with Moderna to Discuss Cooperation Plans for Emerging Infectious Disease Preparedness

by Byun Seonjin

Published 08 Nov.2023 11:00(KST)

On the 8th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that it held a meeting with Patrick Bergstedt, Senior Vice President of Moderna, and others to discuss cooperation plans for the development and supply of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines in preparation for future new and re-emerging infectious diseases.

During the meeting, they shared the progress of the joint research on the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) mRNA vaccine, which is currently underway following previous discussions on research and technology cooperation. They also exchanged opinions on COVID-19 vaccination policy directions and mid- to long-term vaccine procurement plans to prepare for future pandemics.

In May, the KDCA established the "Mid- to Long-Term Plan for Preparation and Response to New Infectious Disease Pandemics," a joint initiative with related government agencies. Accordingly, the agency plans to secure its own vaccine development technological capabilities and build future vaccination strategies to respond to new infectious disease outbreaks.

Through the mid- to long-term plan, the KDCA intends to prioritize infectious diseases centered on respiratory illnesses and hemorrhagic fevers by establishing a vaccine prototype library, enabling rapid vaccine development within 100 and 200 days in the event of a pandemic.

Ji Young-mi, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, “For future pandemic preparedness and response, collaboration among industry, academia, research institutes, and government in mRNA vaccine research and development is crucial, and the KDCA will spare no effort in research cooperation and support for this purpose.”