Vaccines totaling 24.92 million doses secured by this day
Vaccination plan for August to be announced late next week
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] On the 22nd, 290,000 doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine were introduced into the country. With this, a total of 6.3 million doses have been supplied this month, including 1.04 million doses of Moderna, 1.188 million doses of AstraZeneca, and 2.074 million doses of Pfizer. The quarantine authorities plan to bring in a total of 10 million doses of vaccines this month, in addition to 780,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines provided through a vaccine swap agreement with Israel.
On the 22nd, Bae Gyeong-taek, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters Situation Management Team, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, “With the introduction of 290,000 doses of Moderna vaccine today, a total of 24.92 million doses of vaccines have been introduced,” and “approximately 31 million doses of vaccines are expected to be additionally supplied by the end of August.”
The quarantine authorities had previously announced plans to introduce 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this month. As of now, with about a week left in July, 6.3 million doses have been introduced. Excluding the 780,000 doses provided through the vaccine swap with Israel, the actual amount supplied under individual contracts this month is 5.5 million doses. Kim Ki-nam, head of the Vaccination Planning Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, said, “There is currently no change in the total amount of vaccines to be introduced in July,” and “more than 4 million doses of the remaining vaccines planned for introduction this month will be introduced by the end of July.”
Due to delays in the supply of Moderna vaccines, it has already been decided to use Pfizer vaccines in combination for those aged 55 to 59. Kim said, “For the vaccination of those aged 50 and above starting from July 26, Pfizer vaccines will be used in the metropolitan area, and Moderna vaccines will be used in other non-metropolitan areas,” adding, “Additional Moderna vaccine supplies are also planned for July.”
Regarding whether both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be used together for the 50 to 54 age group, he explained, “Overall, both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be administered to those in their 50s,” and “However, guidance on the timing of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be provided in advance.”
Furthermore, the authorities plan to announce the vaccination plan for August, when large-scale vaccinations for those aged 18 to 49 are scheduled, next week. Kim said, “We are currently establishing the vaccination plan considering the weekly quantities of vaccines arriving in August,” and “We will announce it around the latter part of next week, the last week of July.”
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