Gyeonggi Province Proposes to Government: "Diversify Vaccine Introduction Through Rapid Safety Verification"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province has formally proposed to the government to diversify vaccine introduction through rapid safety verification for COVID-19 vaccines and expand vaccination autonomy for local governments.

Gyeonggi Province stated that it delivered a proposal titled "Government Policy Recommendation Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Procurement" to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 23rd.

The province proposed in the recommendation document that vaccine introduction should be diversified through rapid safety verification.

Regarding the introduction of new vaccines, approval from overseas leading specialized institutions such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) can be an important reference factor. However, the explanation is that the government also has the necessary systems and capabilities to conduct its own review and verification.

The province stated that it would actively support efforts at the provincial government level, including discovering companies capable of contract manufacturing of vaccines and providing equipment support when deciding to diversify vaccine introduction.

In fact, the province explained that it has recently begun a review process to confirm whether there are companies within Gyeonggi Province capable of contract vaccine manufacturing and what support can be provided.

Additionally, the province urged expansion of vaccination autonomy for local governments, stating that in a situation where rapid vaccination and formation of herd immunity are important, it is necessary to select vaccines and determine priority of recipients in line with regional circumstances and residents' needs.

The province's position is that vaccine options for local governments should be expanded according to various vaccination circumstances such as age, health status, and overseas travel, minimizing public resistance to vaccination and promoting rapid and efficient vaccination.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Lee Jae-myung said on the 15th in response to questions about the provincial government at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, "We are practically reviewing whether vaccines newly developed and administered in other countries can be independently introduced and administered in Gyeonggi Province."

Subsequently, the province held a related department countermeasures meeting chaired by Governor Lee Jae-myung on the 21st and "confirmed the position that the government should broaden choices for vaccines, open a venue for public verification of vaccines including the Sputnik vaccine, and urgently protect the safety and lives of citizens," and announced plans to deliver the review opinions to the government and quarantine authorities.

This proposal is a follow-up action resulting from the countermeasures meeting.