Hong Nam-ki "3 Million Vaccinations by April, 12 Million Target in First Half of the Year"

"Targeting Herd Immunity in November... Mobilizing All Available Means Including Domestic Contract Manufacturing"

Hong Nam-ki Acting Prime Minister [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The government announced that it aims to vaccinate 3 million people by April and 12 million people in the first half of the year. This is interpreted as a declaration of the government's intention to maintain the original goal of achieving herd immunity by November.

On the 18th, Acting Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting for the first time at the Government Seoul Office, stating, "The essential gateway to achieving herd immunity by November is vaccination," and added, "It is very important to increase the pace now."

He said, "The government is making all-out efforts, including diplomatic capabilities, to secure vaccine supplies early, make additional contracts, and expand domestic consignment production," and added, "We will devote all the capabilities of the Cabinet."

Acting Prime Minister Hong also emphasized, "It is important to quickly identify undetected infected individuals through extensive proactive testing," and urged, "The authorities should promptly prepare specific measures to diversify diagnostic tests."

He continued, "The number of new confirmed cases has been in the 600s for four consecutive days, indicating a serious situation where a fourth wave could come at any time," and reiterated, "The government will respond with even greater vigilance and responsibility."

Meanwhile, Acting Prime Minister Hong stated, "Even during this brief acting period amid the severe COVID-19 crisis, we will do our best to ensure that there is no gap in state administration, especially in quarantine response."

Earlier, Acting Prime Minister Hong has been serving in place of former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who resigned on the 16th.

Acting Prime Minister Hong expressed, "I pay deep respect to former Prime Minister Chung, who led the frontline quarantine efforts by directly overseeing the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meetings more than 240 times over the past one year and two months," and said, "I also thank the citizens, medical staff, volunteers, and quarantine officials. Please hang in there a little longer."