Flu Outbreak... Government Releases 250,000 Doses of Stockpiled Antiviral Drugs

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 21st that it will supply 250,000 doses of antiviral drugs, including Tamiflu, stockpiled by the government to cope with the temporary increase in demand for antivirals due to the seasonal winter influenza outbreak.

The KDCA currently stockpiles 12.88 million doses of antiviral drugs in preparation for novel influenza. The government has been supplying stockpiled antivirals to the market to cover temporary shortages caused by a larger-than-expected influenza outbreak.

This year, 250,000 doses will be supplied immediately, and the supply situation will be monitored for additional distribution if necessary. The antivirals supplied to the market will later be replenished with equivalent drugs from pharmaceutical companies to ensure proper management of the government’s stockpile. Ji Young-mi, Director of the KDCA, stated, "The government has utilized stockpiled supplies to respond not only to pandemics but also to various influenza outbreaks," adding, "We hope that the supply of government stockpiled antivirals to the market will help influenza patients take antivirals in a timely manner."