A government delegation has decided to go to the United States this week to hold working-level discussions with Moderna, while American pharmaceutical company Moderna has cut the amount of COVID-19 vaccine it is scheduled to supply this month by less than half.



Sohn Young-rae, head of the social strategy division of the Central Accident Resolving Headquarters (Jung Su-bon), said at a regular briefing on the 10th, "We are discussing under the policy of sending a delegation led by 2nd Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Kang Do-tae to the United States this week."



The government plans to protest strictly as the vaccine supply disruption problem only occurred at Moderna, and at the same time get a promise to prevent a recurrence.



However, the specific supply schedule for vaccines is determined through consultation, and the supply schedule is not specified in the contract, so it is difficult to view this supply disruption as a violation of the contract.



Director Sohn explained, "Usually, among all the contracts, we are notified of the monthly supply contract in advance and establish an inoculation plan.



"The pre-supply plans first notified by Moderna in advance have been disrupted," he said.



When asked if the supply promise of 40 million orders (20 million people) for moderna direct contracts within the year could not be kept, Mr. Son replied, "It will not be because it violates the most important contract conditions."




There are a total of 40 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine that the Korean government has agreed to supply from Moderna this year, of which only 2455,000 doses have been received so far.



Moderna previously delayed some of the supply in July to August.



After a high-level meeting with Moderna on the 27th of last month, the government said, "Moderna has discussed with the Korean government that 'a significant portion of the delayed supply will be supplied first next week and the August supply will be supplied without any setback'." However, another supply disruption occurred.



(Photo = Provided by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Yonhap News)