백신개발 청신호에 각국 물량 확보전 치열...韓 "국제사회, 백신 공동 개발•분배 추진…참여 검토"
There has been progress in the search for a coronavirus vaccine promising results in several countries.
But there are also concerns that even with hundreds of millions of doses... there won't be enough for some developing countries.
South Korea is looking at what can be done to make sure that doesn't happen.
One - it's considering joining ongoing international efforts to co-develop and supply vaccines for Covid-19.
The progress it's seeing in joint efforts with Sweden's AstraZeneca is also a fruit of leaders' summits between South Korean and Swedish leaders.
Choi Jeong-yoon reports.
Will we have a COVID-19 vaccine before the end of this year?
According to the World Health Organization, there are 23 potential vaccines undergoing human trials, with three of them at the large-scale late stage and reported to have generated immune responses and be safe to use.
As it's uncertain which vaccines will be successful, many countries are embarking on a strategy akin to spread betting while aggressively committing to future vaccine doses even before development.
Washington has closed a deal with AstraZeneca for enough vaccines for 300-million people.
The UK government has also secured some 230-million doses so far and signed deals for a further 90 million.
However, only a handful of nations can afford to commit major sums of money to such speculative investments which could mean developing countries are forced to the back of the queue.
Amid mounting concerns over vaccine nationalism harming the global fight against the coronavirus,... voices have been calling for global efforts to equally distribute vaccines for public health purposes.
South Korea on Wednesday implied such actions are underway and that it is reviewing participating in the plan.
The health authorities said discussions for co-developing a COVID-19 vaccine as well as setting orders for fair distributions are ongoing at an international level... in close cooperation with the WHO and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.
"If such work is to proceed, South Korea is expected to give its financial and other support to the international community's vaccine co-development... which will give us a say in vaccine distribution in the future."
In a move that could help South Korea secure its own supplies, the company SK Bioscience has signed a deal to produce AstraZeneca's vaccine at the SK plant in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
The Blue House says Korea will be able to use some of the vaccines produced there, and that the deal carries great meaning because it recognizes the country's manufacturing prowess.
It's also the first time a South Korean biotech firm has been given permission to go ahead with phase-three clinical trials, which is the last step before a vaccine is ready.
Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.
