<Anchor>
Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong said that he is seriously discussing plans with the United States to promote the COVID-19'vaccine swap'. It means that we will get the American vaccine first, and then we will sign an agreement to pay back.
Kwak Sang-eun is a reporter.
<Reporter>
Foreign Minister Eui-yong Eui-yong, who attended the National Assembly, mentioned the possibility of a'vaccine swap' with the United States, saying that various efforts are being made to secure additional vaccines for Corona 19.
[Eui-Yong Jung/Minister of Foreign Affairs: We are having quite serious discussions with the US side, and we discussed intensively on this issue even when we arrived at Special Envoy Kerry last time.]
Among the vaccines contracted by the U.S., the amount received before Korea was delivered in Korea. It has been reported that Korea is considering repaying it with the quantity delivered later.
The government thought that such a vaccine swap was unlikely to be realized until the beginning of this year, but believes that the recent improvement in the supply and demand of vaccines in the United States has created room.
In fact, the United States recently announced plans to lend AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico and Canada, which has not yet been approved for use in their country, and to get it back later.
But the outlook is not just bright.
Now, because vaccine companies sometimes restrict the delivery of vaccines contracted by certain countries to other countries, and not one or two countries open their hands to the United States.
In addition, pharmaceutical companies' review of so-called booster shots, that is, additional vaccine vaccinations, is also expected to act as a variable in attempts to secure additional vaccines.