US "Vaccine Delivered to Korea... Korea-US Friendship Deepens Even in Difficult Times"

The U.S. government-provided Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Janssen vaccine, loaded on the Air Force multipurpose aerial refueling transport aircraft 'KC-330,' arrived at Seoul Airport in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, early morning on the 5th, where officials were unloading the vaccines.
The Janssen vaccine will be transported to logistics centers in Icheon and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, and after the delivery process, vaccinations will be administered from the 10th to the 20th nationwide at designated medical institutions for approximately 892,000 people aged 30 to under 60, including reservists, civil defense personnel, and those related to defense and diplomacy who made prior reservations. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Officials from the U.S. Biden administration have repeatedly emphasized that the supply of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) subsidiary, to South Korea is a decision made in the spirit of friendship and alliance between the two countries.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated during a briefing on the 4th (local time), "Today, the government delivered 1 million doses of the Janssen vaccine to South Korea," adding, "The friendship and alliance between the two countries are deep, especially in these very necessary and difficult times."

Press Secretary Psaki said, "This was done to ensure the safety and readiness of U.S. and South Korean forces," and added, "Today, thanks to all the government's efforts, we were able to fulfill that promise."

State Department spokesperson Ned Price also shared three photos on Twitter showing the Janssen vaccine being loaded onto an aircraft, stating, "1 million doses of the Janssen vaccine have been sent to our partners in South Korea," and added, "Through this, we will ensure the safety and readiness of the U.S.-ROK forces."

Spokesperson Price also expressed, "The friendship between the two countries is deep, especially at a time when it is urgently needed."

The 1.01 million doses of the Janssen vaccine provided by the U.S. to South Korea were loaded onto a South Korean military transport aircraft, which took off from a U.S. Air Force base in California the previous night, and after a 12-hour and 40-minute flight, arrived at Seongnam Seoul Airport in Korea at dawn on the 5th (Korean time).

South Korea is one of only four countries worldwide, along with Canada, Mexico, and India, to which the U.S. has directly supplied the vaccine.