South Korea stocks up on 15 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine for winter

SEOUL – The first batch of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for XBB.1.5, an Omicron subvariant, arrived at South Korea’s Incheon Airport on Monday, according to the quarantine authorities.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that 4.04 million doses of the latest Pfizer vaccine arrived in the afternoon, out of a total 15 million doses set aside for 2023’s winter vaccination programme.

“A lot of research has shown that those who took this updated Covid-19 vaccine, which includes a component that corresponds to the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant, showed a strong immune response against some of the variants that are common now,” an official from the KDCA said.

“Their antibody responses after vaccination were more than 10 times higher against XBB.1.5 compared with before vaccination.”

The agency and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety gave special approval for the manufacture of the vaccine and for it to be introduced and distributed swiftly.

Another six million doses are set to arrive, making a total of 10 million doses, the KDCA said, without giving dates.

Furthermore, the agency said it will introduce five million doses of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for XBB.1.5 starting in October. The authorities are reviewing an emergency use authorisation for it.

The KDCA said it plans to begin administering the vaccines in October, and specific dates for the winter vaccination programme will be announced next week.

It strongly recommends that high-risk groups such as the elderly get vaccinated, added the agency. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK