Posted : 2020-12-18 17:02
Updated : 2020-12-20 19:16
Medical workers collect specimens from people for COVID-19 tests at a temporary testing center in front of Seoul Station, Friday. Yonhap
By Bahk Eun-ji
Infectious disease experts urged Korea to pass a bill allowing for the pre-purchase of vaccines before they are licensed, saying the lack of laws has resulted in the country s relatively late purchase of COVID-19 vaccines and the resulting insufficient amount of vaccines.
The government said, Friday, it plans to start offering vaccines to people early next year, by pushing to sign vaccine procurement contracts with Janssen and Pfizer later this month and inking another deal with Moderna next month, in addition to the deal already signed with AstraZeneca. It said it has secured early access to the vaccines developed by the four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project to secure enough vaccines for 44 million people.