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- 2026-05-19 06:49:43
- Company
- Venclexta combo in the spotlight as a new lymphoma Tx option
- by Jul 13, 2021 05:59am
- The treatment landscape for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which has a 5-year relative survival rate of less than 10%, is changing with the introduction of a new drug that addresses the unmet needs and improves survival rate. AML is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults with a high unmet need in patients and HCPs alike. As one of the more aggressive types of leukemia in adults, around 140,000 new cases occur globally every year, of which around 100,000 cases end in deaths. With the same treatment being used in AML for over 40 years, not much improvement has been made in the overall survival (OS) until recently. The 5-year survival rate was at a mere 29% and was even lower for older patients. According to a study by the National Cancer Center, the relative survival rate of AML patients was very low in elderly patients - less than 10% for patients over the age of 65 and 0% for those 80 years and older. Considering that the average age of AML patients is 67 and that one-third of the patients are 75 years old, the urgency and need for an appropriate treatment was high in this respect. Also, there had been a high demand for treatment with improved efficacy and lower toxicity that can be used in older patients. Experts advised that intensive chemotherapy, the main treatment used for AML, is unsuitable in elderly patients who are likely to have comorbidities and are not generally in good condition. Venclexta combination therapy provides new opportunities for elderly AML patients The most important goal in treating AML patients is improving the overall survival period. With active R&D being conducted in the field recently, the treatment environment has improved to allow more options from combination therapy to targeted therapies to be provided according to each patient’s condition. A new treatment option is also available for the elderly patients who were not considered candidates for intensive chemotherapy. Among the new drugs that were recently introduced to the field, Abbvie’s ‘Venclexta (venetoclax)’ in combination with azacytidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine is being considered the most appropriate therapy for patients who have difficulty receiving intensive chemotherapy. Venclexta, which was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in January, may be used in combination with azacytidine or decitabine in ‘newly-diagnosed AML adult patients aged 75 or more, or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy.’ Results of the Phase III VIALE-A trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Venclexta and azacitidine combination showed that the combination’s median OS was 14.7 months, 5 months longer than the 9.6 months found in the control group (placebo+ azacitidine combination). The Phase I M14-35 trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of the Venclexta in combination with decitabine also showed that the median OS was 16.2 months. Also, the median time to first complete remission(CR) or CR with incomplete count recovery (Cri) was shorter for the Venclexta and azacitidine combination (1.3 months) than the control group (2.3 months), showing that the responses to the combination therapy occurred quickly in elderly patients as well. Also, over 60% of the patients achieved transfusion independence, raising expectations that the treatment could reduce the burden of treatment in elderly patients. Joon Ho Jang, Professor of Hematology and Oncology at the Samsung Medical Center said, “It is encouraging that a treatment that dramatically improved overall survival was introduced in the ALK treatment environment, a field where no new treatment option had been available for a long period of time. The new treatment option could provide opportunities for the difficult-to-treat patient population, such as those who are older or have comorbidities. We expect an improvement in the overall patients’ quality of life as the Venclexta+hypomethylating agent combination is effective not only in improving OS but has a short period to CR and can lower transfusion dependence. Professor Jang continued, “I hope that accessibility to these new treatment options is improved as soon as possible in consideration of the poor physical and economic conditions of patients suffering from AML in Korea."
- Company
- “Reimburse Vyndamax, the only hope for amyloidosis”
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 13, 2021 05:59am
- The hATTR Patients Association came forward to call for the reimbursement approval of ‘Vyndamax’ The patient group recently delivered a ‘Statement for the insurance benefit of Vyndamax' to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Services. The move arose among patients with the reimbursement discussions being delayed on Vyndamax (Tafamidis 61mg), which is virtually the only drug approved for the treatment of ATTR-CM (ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy). After failing to receive the essential drug designation for Vyndamzx, Pfizer, its developer, conducted a PE evaluation on its drug and applied for reimbursement again in April this year. The company hopes to receive reimbursement benefits through the Risk Sharing Agreement (RSA) scheme. However, no solid discussion or progress has been made for the drug yet. And the patients are the ones most pressed for time. ATTR-CM is a life-threatening condition with a poor treatment outcome due to a lack of treatment and is often mistaken for simple heart failure. If not treated properly, patients with ATTR-CM have a survival period of only 2 to 3.5 years. In the Phase III ATTR-ACT study, Vyndamax had reduced cardiovascular events in ATTR-CM patients and improved their functional athletic ability in the six-minute walk test, demonstrating the drug's benefit in the area with a dire need. Based on such findings, healthcare professionals in Korea are also stressing the need to prescribe Vyndamax. In the statement, the patient group said, “We ask the government to show determination for improving the treatment environment for ATTR-CM. Please help us and establish an environment where we can devote ourselves to treatment." In the ATTR-ACT study, 441 patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1:2 ratio to receive the tafamidis 80 mg dose, tafamidis 20 mg dose, or placebo, respectively. The primary endpoint of the study was the hierarchical combination of all-cause mortality and frequency of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations. The key secondary endpoints were the change from baseline to month 30 for the 6-minute walk test and the score on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire–Overall Summary (KCCQ-OS), in which higher scores indicate better health status. Study results showed that the tafamidis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in all-cause mortality and frequency of cardiovascular-related hospitalizations compared to placebo.
- InterView
- MSD "Will care for employees and new drug reimbursement"
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 13, 2021 12:59am
- Keven Peters, Managing Director at MSD KoreaApart from its positives and negatives, MSD (known as Merck in the U.S.) is a company apt at ‘adaptation.’ MSD, which first cut its appearance in circulatory, respiratory drugs, and vaccines, became a leader in the field of diabetes in the 2000s with the introduction of its Januvia(sitagliptin), a DPP-4 inhibitor. In 2010, MSD became a sensation with the release of its PD-1 inhibitor ‘Keytruda(pembrolizumab),’ marking the start of the era of cancer immunotherapies. MSD’s forward-looking eye that allowed for the launch and success of various first-in-class drugs regardless of the disease area, is an undeniable strength of MSD. However, MSD had also been in the throes of change from the adaptation process. Last year, the company had officially announced the completion of its spin-off of Organon. In the process of the spinoff, MSD suffered considerable labor-management conflict. Also, MSD is in a 3-year back and forth with the authorities regarding the reimbursement expansion of its lead product Keytruda to first-line treatment in lung cancer. Amid such change, MSD Korea had welcomed a new head to its office in November last year. Keven Peters, the new Managing Director at MSD Korea, who has come to head the Korean subsidiary after serving in the Thailand subsidiary, had jumped in to resolve the pending issues, signing a collective agreement with the union and holding meetings with the government to allow for the reimbursement of Keytruda. Dailypharm met with the new Managing Director Kevin Peters to hear about his seven months in office. -You have been very busy since you took office. Let’s first discuss the labor-management conflict issue. What efforts have you made to resolve the conflict that arose in the spinoff process? As you know, we have signed the 1st collective agreement in January. I am proud that we were able to reach a mutual agreement after close discussions with the labor union. Also, I plan to visit our 4 local offices in Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Busan to communicate with the employees there starting early July. I will be sharing the company’s stories there and will hold an ear out to what our local employees have to say on each matter. Also, I plan to humbly take the advice that they may have to offer. My top priority is to have employees take an interest in our company and engage them in company activities. I am doing my best to listen to what all our stakeholders have to say. -You should be quite well-read on Korea’s drug pricing policy due to the situation with Keytruda. What do you think about Korea’s policy? From my 7 months of experience here, I felt that the HCPs and the government in Korea have a strong will to reimburse drugs. Of course, there’s the wish that reimbursements could be discussed more quickly. As you know, we are in the process of discussing increasing the accessibility of Keytruda. With lung cancer patients in 52 countries around the globe already using Keytruda as first-line therapy, I hope that our Korean patients can also have improved access to the drug as soon as possible. Increasing accessibility of Keytruda is an issue for consideration for all governments around the world. I think it is important for the key stakeholders including the government, companies, and HCPs to cooperate and collaborate to find a better way to increase the accessibility of the drug. -It seems that you have some regrets regarding the ‘quickness’ of the reimbursement approval process in Korea. In fact, reimbursement discussions for Keytruda first-line have been ongoing for over 3 years now. Efforts both ways, not only the government but the company’s efforts, are also required for a successful resolution of the issue. And as you know, there have been many arguments over the inadequacy of the cost-sharing plan that was proposed by the company. What I can promise now is that MSD will continue to cooperate with the government and healthcare officials to ensure that our patients can receive the optimal treatment. The company has submitted a financial sharing plan to the Review Committee for Cancer Diseases that proposes an unprecedented level of cost-sharing by the company, based on which we hope to see progress in Keytruda’s reimbursement expansion within a few weeks. -From what I know, the global investment in Keytruda is nearly 15 trillion won. Domestic investment (15 billion won) seems to be small in comparison to the global amount invested. MSD Korea is ranked no.1 in terms of R&D investment size in the MSD Asia-Pacific region. Our number of new clinical trials approved in Korea over the past four years was at a leading level among multinational companies, and the amount invested in R&D last year increased by 66% compared to the previous year. Quality data and infrastructure are key considerations used for making investment decisions in rclinical research. Korea owns excellent resources in this regard. We are continuously looking for institutions to collaborate with in Korea, and plan to further expand our collaboration in the future. In particular, an unprecedented number of clinical trials are underway in the field of oncology. There are 1,400 clinical trials in the world related to Keytruda, of which more than 900 are combination therapy studies. -What other products do MSD Korea plan to introduce in Korea? I cannot share specificities regarding releases of drugs before their approval, but we are preparing to introduce a chronic cough treatment, HIV treatment, antibiotic, and pneumococcal vaccine among others. Also, a Phase III trial is ongoing for our oral antiviral ‘molnupiravir’ that is expected to contribute to bringing an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in the mid-to-long term, we own an extensive portfolio ranging from PARP inhibitors, VEGF TKIs, HER2 TKIs, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), to antibiotics.
- Company
- Takeda's innovation in Korea
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 12, 2021 06:20pm
- Moon Hee-seok, CEO of Takeda Korea Takeda Korea, which sold off OTC division & DM division, which was the company's symbol. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the corporation's launch, constraints have once again confirmed their commitment to pursuing innovation. Marking the 240th anniversary of Takeda Pharmaceutical's headquarters and Korea Takeda's 10th Anniversary, 'Takeda has achieved innovative growth for patients,' it held an online press conference. At this press conference, Take Korea is in line with four key treatment areas: anti-cancer, gastrointestinal disease, nervous system disease, and rare diseases.The general managers of the four major pharmaceutical businesses announced major portfolios and core strategies of each business unit. Takeda Pharmaceutical sold its DM division and OTC division to Celltrion, a South Korean company, last year. The company's Actos is a representative TZD-based drug that survived the Avandia crisis, and Whituben and Albothyl are brand OTCs that everyone knows. Takeda Pharmaceutical has prepared in advance for this change. Takeda conducted four mergers and acquisitions, including Millenium Pharmaceutical in 2008, Nycomed in 2012, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals in 2017, and Shire in 2018. Through this process, it has been strengthening major pipelines in areas such as anticancer drugs, rare diseases, and gastrointestinal diseases. It quickly responded to rapidly changing market conditions. At the press conference, Takeda announced that she would focus on the specialty care sector in line with her global strategy, signaling a more innovative drug launch.It presented a vision for the future of pharmaceuticals. Kim Jung-hun, the first speaker, introduced the "3P (Patient, People, Product)" strategy under the title "Oncology Division's 3P Strategy for Domestic Cancer Patients." The oncology division introduced solid cancer treatments Alunbrig(Brigatinib) and Zejula(Niraparib) as notable products, saying they are generating various results by prioritizing patients first. Under the theme of "Focus on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Fire Extinguisher Division," Kim Tae-hoon then introduced the major portfolios of the division, Kynteles(Vedolizumab) and Mezavant (Mesalazine), and he expressed his ambition to continue activities to raise awareness of the disease in the domestic market, where competition is intensifying, and to become a company specializing in treating inflammatory bowel diseases. Under the title of "Korea's Rare Genetic Disease Treatment Partnership, Genetic Disease Division," Ji Chang-deok introduced Fabri's disease treatment drugs "Replagal (Agalsidase Alfa)" and Gaucher's disease treatment "Vpriv (Velaglucerase Alfa)" to improve treatment environment in Korea. Finally, General Manager Kim Na-kyung introduced hemophilia treatments such as Adavate(Blood Coagulation Factor Ⅷ) & Adynovate(Rurioctocog Alfa Pegol) under the theme of "Pioneer in improving the domestic hemophilia treatment environment, Hemophilia treatment division." Moon Hee-seok, CEO of Takeda, said, "Takeda for the past 240 years has worked on creating an environment that can change patients' lives as treatment partners around the world with a series of passionate challenges and dedication to patients. The company, which marks the 10th anniversary of its launch in Korea this year, will once again move forward, preparing for another 10 years through patient-centered realization and innovative treatments." Takeda celebrated its 240th anniversary on June 11th. Pharmaceuticals entered the top 10 multinational pharmaceutical companies in terms of total sales in 2019 and has become a leading global bio pharmaceutical company through intensive strategies and value-based research and development for specialty care.
- Company
- Byfavo can be prescribed in general hospitals
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jul 12, 2021 06:19pm
- The anesthetic drug Byfavo can be prescribed at a general hospital. According to related industries, Hana Pharm's Byfavo (Remimazolam Besylate) passed DC of Big 5 general hospitals, including Seoul National University Hospital and Asan Medical Center, and will also be able to be prescribed it at major advanced general hospitals this month. Byfavo is a new anesthetic drug released more than 30 years after the approval of the general anesthetic Propofol. Launched in March, Byfavo secured manufacturing rights and exclusive sales rights from German company Paion in 2013. It has completed phase 3 of clinical trials for 198 subjects that will carry out general anesthesia in South Korea since 2018. The main indication is the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia in adults. Byfavo is a anesthetic drug that does not cause pain, and has the pharmacological advantages of conventional general anesthesia such as Propofol and Midazolam. Hana Pharm's the new Hagil plant is under construction, and expected to operate in 2023, equipped with German-made freeze-drying facilities and designed to supply Byfavo to advanced markets. The company acquired additional rights from six Southeast Asian countries to Byfavo from the original developer Germany Paion, and completed internal work to receive permission documents from these countries. Hana Pharm CEO Lee Yoon-ha said, "We are doing our best to secure supply rights in Korea and Southeast Asia, as well as in advanced markets in the future." "We are implementing strategies to enter markets by countries with a focus on partnership structure that can be supplied with expensive finished products as mid- to long-term tasks."
- Policy
- Evrenzo has been approved in Korea
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jul 12, 2021 06:11pm
- A new oral drug that can treat anemia, one of the complications of patients with chronic kidney disease, has been approved in Korea. Until now, the standard therapy for treating the disease has been administered with a red blood cell production stimulating injection called EPO (Erythropoietin) or ESA (Erythropoiesis stimulating agent), and attention is being paid to whether a new oral drug with high convenience will replace ESA. The MFDS approved AstraZeneca Korea's (Roxadustat) 5 items on the 9th. This drug is used to treat syndrome anemia in patients with chronic nephropathy. In particular, patients who are or are not on dialysis can also be used. It can also replace the ESA injections that have been used. People with chronic nephropoientin develop anemia due to fewer kidney-generated Erythropoientin. This is because hematopoietic hormones are involved in the process of making red blood cells in the bone marrow. The hematopoietic hormone preparation made by recombination technology is ESA. The first generation of ESA required injections every two to three days, but the latest ESA has been improved to allow injections once a month. One of the most popular injections is Roche's Mircera. Mircera is a blockbuster drug that sold ₩18.8 billion (IQVIA) in South Korea last year. Other ESAs are also being used in addition to Mircera. Since oral oral medicine is more convenient to take than injections, attention is being paid to whether Evrenzo, which is approved this time, will replace existing ESA drugs. Roxadustat has a mechanism to activate hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that regulate gene expression by engaging in red blood cell formation. By reversibly inhibiting HIF-PH, which targets HIFs and decomposes them under normal oxygen conditions, Roxadustat induces a response similar to the body's natural response to hypoxia. High efficacy was confirmed in three clinical trials (ANDES, OLYMPUS, and ALPS) and maintained the hemoglobin concentration in patients switching from conventional ESA therapy. Roxadustat, co-developed by AstraZeneca and FibroGen, was first approved in China in December 2018, and was also approved in Japan the following year. European EMA and the U.S. FDA are also likely to approve it soon. Attention is expected to continue to be paid to whether the existing market structure will be reorganized with the release of the drug.
- Policy
- MFDS orders minimized use of varenicline
- by Lee, Tak-Sun Jul 12, 2021 05:58am
- The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety ordered minimized use of the smoking-cessation treatment, ‘varenicline.’ The measure was announced 3 weeks after safety investigations had started for the products, from the 22nd of last month. The MFDS announced that it has issued a Dear Healthcare Professional Letter regarding the precautions to take when prescribing and using smoking cessation treatment aids using ‘varenicline,’ with regards to the recall of these products abroad due to N-nitroso-varenicline impurities found in some of its products. The MFDS explained that the letter was issued as a precautionary measure for domestic HCPs and patients, as the possibility of nitrosamine impurities cannot be completely ruled out, although the results of the safety investigations that started on the 22nd of June have not been released yet. Measures to recall some of the finished drug products containing ‘varenicline’ are already in force in Canada and the U.S. In the letter, the MFDS informed the experts and patients of the types of finished drugs and their related information. To HCPs including doctors and pharmacists, the ministry recommended minimizing the use of finished drug products that contain ‘varenicline’ and asked experts to consider other treatment methods, if possible, according to the patient’s condition, until the investigation results regarding the nitrosamine impurities are announced. To patients who are using affected products, the ministry advised them to continue using the treatment until the HCPs provide an alternative treatment, and to consult with doctors and pharmacists if any health concerns arise while using the medications. The ministry also added that it is working closely with relevant companies to ensure that the ongoing investigation for impurities is completed as soon as possible and that it will announce measures as soon as the key results are released. Also, products that do not complete testing by August 31st will be suspended from sales as a precautionary measure until it is confirmed that no impurities are detected in the products. An official from MFDS said, “Public safety is of our utmost priority, and we plan to quickly implement necessary measures including completing the development of test methods for impurities and collecting and inspecting related products if necessary.” The letter was issued in the midst of the confusion arising in the field as the Korean health authorities had made no measures after ordering investigations for impurities despite ongoing product recalls for some varenicline products in the U.S. and Canada.
- Policy
- Ultra-high-priced drugs(Kymriah) need coverage within a year
- by Lee, Jeong-Hwan Jul 11, 2021 07:05pm
- In order to commercialize high-tech biopharmaceuticals, which are evaluated as ultra-high-priced new drugs, it has been argued that a policy to recognize insurance benefits should follow beyond Expedited Review within at least a year of approval. It is pointed out that although the enactment of the Advanced Regenerative Bio Act in 2019 established a quick marketing permit system for serious and rare diseases without alternative treatments, there is still no system to register benefit. Professor Kim Won-seok of the Department of Blood Tumor Medicine at Samsung Medical Center will present the presentation at the National Assembly's debate on how to improve accessibility of patients with advanced biopharmaceuticals on the 9th. The debate was hosted by Kim Min-seok, chairman of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, and Choi Hye-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Professor Kim Won-seok, who is in charge of the presentation, announced the "Status of Advanced Biopharmaceutical Development and Treatment in Advanced Countries." Advanced bio-medicine is a drug based on cells, tissues, and genes, and many treat the source of the disease and show a full recovery effect with a single dose. Anti-cancer drugs are leading research and development of advanced biopharmaceuticals. Cancer diseases have a large number of unmet demand and indications with fewer patients with symptoms than the stage of disease development. Professor Kim said advanced bio drugs are a new alternative to the treatment of recurrent non-responsive incurable blood cancer, which currently has no cure. Kymriah (Tisagenleucel) using CAR-T cells was cited as an example. Professor Kim said Kymriah has been performing in the actual medical environment, with a total response rate of 53% in the follow-up analysis for about 40 months. Due to the characteristics of treatments that utilize human cells, there are many problems that need to be solved for commercialization, such as preparing a new system for medical institutions and establishing standards. In fact, CAR-T treatment in Korea requires permission, manpower, system, and standards from the management industry, and professional support such as infectious medicine, neurology, circulatory medicine, and critical patient medicine for comprehensive management after treatment. In particular, there are no advanced biopharmaceuticals called Marketing Authorization Under Exceptional Circumstances (MAEC). Looking at Kymriah's global status, Japan and Europe (France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland) recognized the benefit at the same time as the permit. Australia, Britain, Canada and Scotland, which have similar insurance benefit registration systems to Korea, applied their benefits after a quick review within a year of permission. Professor Kim believes that although Korea approved Kymriah on March 1, there is no insurance review program comparable to overseas countries. He said, "High-tech bio drugs are drugs that change the treatment paradigm. Patients waiting for Kymriah is less than 200 a year, and have only three to six months to wait for insurance benefit, and high-tech bio drugs need not only quick approval but also quick insurance registration."
- Company
- Huons has secured domestic rights to Sputnik Light
- by Lee, Seok-Jun Jul 11, 2021 07:03pm
- Huons said on the 7th that it has secured exclusive rights to domestic licenses and sales of Russia's one-shot vaccine Sputnik Light. Sputnik Light will be produced from Huons Global Consortium starting from second half of this year. It was developed by Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. It is a one-shot vaccine that was approved for use in Russia in May. It uses the same adenovirus as Sputnik V, a double inoculation method, as a vector (transmitter. However, only one type of vector (adenovirus type 26) needs to be inoculated once. The prevention effect is 79.4% and the immune system is known to last 3 to 4 months. Since the end of February, phase III has been underway for about 7,000 people in countries such as Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Ghana. Huons is considering Emergency Use Authorization for quick domestic approval.
- Policy
- Early supply of Pfizer in exchange for a vaccine with Israel
- by Kim, Jung-Ju Jul 11, 2021 07:01pm
- The Minister of Health and Welfare, Kwon Deok-chul signed a vaccine swap agreement today (6th), which will receive 700,000 pfizer vaccines from the Israeli government in July and return them sequentially from September to November. Recently, the Israeli government was looking for ways to make effective use of the vaccine, with some of the Pfizer vaccines (valid July 31st) expected to remain in use in July. The vaccine exchange between Korea and Israel will take place in consideration of the cold chain management base and the fact that the vaccination can be completed in a short period due to the high participation rate of vaccination. Since the announcement of the expiration date in Israel, the number of applicants for vaccination has increased and the exchange volume has been confirmed to be 700,000 after consulting for the first 800,000 vaccinations. Korea has secured enough supplies to introduce about 80 million batches in the third quarter, including about 10 million in July, but the vaccine exchange will speed up the vaccination process. The exchange of vaccines between South Korea and Israel has been largely attributed to the trust between the two countries through diplomatic efforts between South Korea and Israel. Since the launch of COVAX, a multilateral consultative body for responding to COVID-19, South Korea and Israel have held close informal consultations and discussed vaccine cooperation as similar countries. Recently, the two sides discussed ways to cooperate with vaccines, including the Israeli foreign minister's visit to Korea in May this year, and such efforts served as the basis for successful exchange of vaccines. Pfizer vaccine, which will be supplied early through the exchange of vaccines with Israel, are scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport at 7:15 a.m. on the 7th. This vaccine is already licensed in Belgium and is also being used in Israel for vaccination in July. The government plans to complete customs clearance immediately and conduct Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) so that it can be used quickly after the vaccine arrives. Afterwards, the MFDS will conduct its own quality inspection and domestic delivery procedures, and will be used for vaccination from the 13th. Pfizer vaccine (700,000 doses) to be supplied this time will be used for vaccination in addition to about 10 million doses originally scheduled for July. First of all, autonomous vaccination of local governments for Seoul and Gyeonggi will be implemented early from the 13th in order to stabilize quarantine in the Seoul metropolitan area. The government plans to supply Pfizer vaccines (340,000 people) to Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, where confirmed cases are concentrated, to stabilize the quarantine by short-term intensive vaccinations for job groups with high public contact (two weeks from the 13th). The local government will select the target groups, including jobs that have a high risk of spreading due to high contact with the public, and start vaccinating each vaccination center with a Pfizer vaccine on the 13th. The vaccination will be conducted at 43 vaccination centers in Seoul (about 200,000) and 51 vaccination centers in Gyeonggi Province (about 140,000). In addition, the government will expand the size of autonomous vaccinations for local governments, which will be implemented later this month. It plans to expand the autonomous vaccination of local governments to 800,000 people, which was originally planned to be 440,000 at the end of July, to reflect Israel's introduction. Autonomous vaccination of local governments will be carried out for 2 million people by August. The government will start vaccinating daycare centers, kindergarten, and elementary school first and second-grade faculty and care workers (380,000 people) among education and childcare workers originally scheduled to be vaccinated on July 28th (Tuesday). Advance reservations will take place from midnight on the 8th to 18th on the 10th, and those who are eligible for reservation will be informed how to book by text message by tomorrow. Other reservations and vaccinations for education and childcare workers (elementary and junior high school teachers, children's facilities, etc.) shall be carried out as originally planned. Since then, the government will return Pfizer vaccine received from Israel sequentially from September to November, when much of the vaccination was carried out in Korea. Kwon Deok-chul, head of the pan-government vaccine introduction TF team, explained, "This Korea-Israel vaccine exchange is a win-win strategy that can speed up vaccination during the summer vacation season by receiving vaccines earlier than scheduled for Korea." Jeong Eun-kyeong, the Commissioner of KDCA, said, "The importance of international vaccine cooperation is increasing at a time when vaccines are scarce around the world. "The vaccine exchange means early introduction of vaccines through international cooperation domestically, and internationally, it is an example of efficient use of vaccines." She said, "In particular, each country needs a vaccine at a different time, and the exchange of vaccines between Korea and Israel is expected to serve as a model for revitalizing international cooperation. In the future, we will also provide vaccines first, considering the vaccine supply and vaccination situation, and actively review the vaccine exchange we receive when we need it, so that vaccines can be effectively received internationally."
