S.Korea hails arrival of virus vaccines as first step in 'return to normal'

SK Chemicals

24/02/2021 04:00

By Josh Smith and Sangmi Cha
    SEOUL, Feb 24 (Reuters) - South Korea shipped its first
doses of a coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, transferring
AstraZeneca vaccines from a production facility in the country
to a warehouse outside the capital of Seoul in preparation for
this week's inoculation drive.
    Healthcare workers are scheduled to receive the first batch
of AstraZeneca PLC's  AZN.L  vaccine from Friday, as South Korea
looks to protect 10 million high-risk people by July, on its way
to reaching herd immunity by November.
    AstraZeneca shots enough for about 750,000 people will be
distributed from a production facility of SK Chemicals Co Ltd
 285130.KS  unit SK bioscience to immunisation centres across
the country starting on Wednesday.
    "We start the first historic vaccination on Friday with the
vaccines rolled out today," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a
government meeting. "This is the first step that will lead us to
a long-waited return to normal."
    Last week, a government poll showed almost 94% of 367,000
healthcare workers aged 64 or younger in priority groups said
they were ready to take the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite
concerns over its efficacy in older people.
    "The government is thoroughly preparing the entire process
of vaccine roll-out from shipment to transportation,
distribution, vaccination and adverse reaction management so
that the public can receive the shots with confidence," Chung
said.
    Seoul acting mayor Seo Jung-hyup on Wednesday said the
large-scale vaccination plan will only be possible with
widespread public participation.
    "In order to implement the Seoul city vaccination plan
according to the timetable, the trust and cooperation of
citizens are absolutely necessary," he told a briefing.

 (Reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
 ((JoshSmith1@thomsonreuters.com;))