Government Pushes to Secure 30 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine (Comprehensive)

Prime Minister Jeong: "Strategic Approach Needed Even While Being Expelled"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (center), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hae (right), and Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae are attending the Cabinet meeting held on the 15th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The government announced plans to secure COVID-19 vaccines sufficient to inoculate 30 million people, equivalent to 60% of the entire population, through the international vaccine procurement organization 'COVAX Facility' and others.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced at the 47th Cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 15th, "Through negotiations with international organizations and overseas companies, we will first secure vaccines for about 30 million people, which is about 60% of our country's population."

The plan is to secure vaccines for 10 million people (20 million doses, with 1 dose being one vaccination) through COVAX, and vaccines for 20 million people (40 million doses) through negotiations with individual companies.

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "We want to secure enough quantities to vaccinate all citizens, but currently, the safety and efficacy of vaccines, as well as the success of development, remain uncertain, so there are limits to investing blindly," adding, "A proactive yet strategic approach is necessary."

He added, "We will continue to explore additional procurement plans depending on the progress of vaccine development." Considering the domestic vaccine development situation in the future, a second-phase purchase plan to vaccinate more than 30 million people will also be gradually promoted.

Prime Minister Chung instructed, "Related ministries should devote all efforts to negotiations and investments to secure stable vaccine supplies, and carefully prepare vaccination plans in advance."

He also ordered, "The 4th supplementary budget bill, which requires parliamentary discussion, should have support criteria and delivery systems checked in advance, and be fully prepared for immediate execution upon approval."

He continued, "Based on the experience of executing three supplementary budgets, related ministries should devise ways to enable as many people as possible to receive support before Chuseok," and noted, "Now is the time when proactive administration that meets the public's expectations is needed."

Prime Minister Chung said, "With the increase in non-face-to-face consumption, online shopping transactions in July rose by 16% compared to last year, and among these, food delivery service transactions surged by 66%," adding, "The use of disposable items in cafes and other places has also increased."

Furthermore, he pointed out, "This month, Chuseok gift deliveries will be added to this," and warned, "Although unavoidable for infection prevention, waste disposal such as packaging materials can become a significant burden."

Prime Minister Chung urged, "The Ministry of Environment and local governments should work with the private sector to ensure proper collection and disposal of waste, reduce excessive packaging, and promote the use of reusable packaging materials," and appealed, "Citizens should also refrain from unnecessary use of disposable items and participate in proper waste separation and disposal."