While 82% of the crew of the 34th ship Munmu the Great (4,400 ton class) dispatched to African waters were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, criticism is coming out that the scale of infection has increased because they have not been vaccinated.



However, the health authorities stated that it would have been difficult to supply the vaccine due to distribution problems.



In a regular briefing today (19th), Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Jung Eun-kyung said about the reason why the crew members of the cruise ship Munmu the Great were not vaccinated, "The vaccine had to be sent by plane, and the vaccine could not be supplied because it was judged that it was difficult to distribute the vaccine. I think it is,” he said.



When asked if it was possible to send vaccines to units dispatched overseas, Commissioner Jeong said, "In terms of international law, it seems that there is no problem in sending vaccines in consultation with pharmaceutical companies because it is for military personnel." "I think it is a matter that needs to be reviewed and decided on by comprehensively judging the safety of inoculation on transport and ships."



Commissioner Jeong said that he confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense did not confirm that it was not the official position of the Ministry of National Defense when there were rumors from some that the Joint Chiefs of Staff tried to send vaccines to units dispatched overseas, but the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) objected that it was impossible to export the vaccine.



He dismissed it, saying, "We have never discussed in detail about the export."




Regarding the report that the Cheonghae Unit took a rapid antibody test kit instead of a rapid antigen test kit, Chung said, "There is no antibody kit approved for self-testing. I will try to find out the relevant information accurately after the actor returns. It is difficult for the authorities to confirm the exact details."



According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as of 8 a.m. (Korean time) on the same day, the total number of confirmed cases of the 34 crew members of the Cheonghae Unit was 247, accounting for 82.1% of the total 301 people.



The government sent two Air Force multi-purpose aerial refueling transport aircraft (KC-330) to transport all of the 34th wing of the Cheonghae Unit to Korea. will do.



(Photo = provided by the Ministry of Defense, Yonhap News)