Let’s go ahead with President Moon directly, and Modena also has’extraordinary heart’… Rapid progress in vaccine negotiations

President Moon Jae-in’s agreement with the global pharmaceutical company Modena to supply 20 million vaccines for the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) within this year is evaluated by the’Moon Jae-in brand’ of Korea, a leading country in’corona prevention’. .

Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok announced that Korea and Modena had agreed to supply 20 million COVID-19 vaccines (40 million doses) through a briefing at the Spring and Autumn Hall on the morning of the 29th. This is a level that is twice as large as the amount the government was initially negotiating with, and accordingly, the purchase price is also reduced.

Initially, it was difficult to sign a contract within this year, but the timing of the contract was advanced, so the contract was decided within a few days. In addition, the vaccine supply period, which was originally in the third quarter of next year, was also advanced, and the supply was decided from the second quarter. Spokesman Kang said, “The government and Moderna have decided to make additional efforts to accelerate the supply period.”

This agreement was reached on the previous day (28th) in a call between President Moon and Modena’s CEO Stefan Bansel. The two had a 27-minute video call from 9:53 pm to 10:20 pm the previous day.

The video call was announced by surprise through a briefing at the Blue House on the morning of the next day. The phone call was set about last week, and it is known that the negotiations have progressed rapidly as President Moon discussed a plan to negotiate directly.

This is the second time President Moon has made a phone call with an unexpected global company CEO regarding Corona 19 since Microsoft founder Bill Gates, chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As such, it is unusual for President Moon to go directly to the vaccine issue.

On the 23rd, the government signed a contract with multinational pharmaceutical companies Janssen and Pfizer for 10 million Pfizer and 6 million Janssen within December. According to the plan announced by the government on the 18th, it was initially pushing for a contract with Modena for 10 million people in January.

However, in a call between President Moon and CEO Bancell the day before, the volume doubled, and a plan to pull the contract within December was struck. It seems that the Blue House also actively moved in the judgment that the negotiations could be made easier if President Moon directly stepped up the level of the negotiating subject.

It is interpreted that Modena also takes into account the fact that it can enjoy the’publicity effect’ if a contract is signed through direct communication with the President of the Republic of Korea, which has received international attention as a model country for COVID-19 quarantine.

If the contract is completed with a modder or supply contract, the amount of vaccines that the Korean government has completed will be 5,600 from 36 million (Pfizer 10 million, AstraZeneca 10 million, COVAX Facility 10 million, Janssen 6 million). It will increase to 10,000 people. Spokesman Kang said, “After negotiations with Nova Bax and Pfizer are over, the volume will increase further.”

The day before (28th), President Moon said at a meeting of the chief advisors, “There are concerns that Korea has not sufficiently secured the vaccine or that the vaccination will be delayed, but it is not true.” “We proceed without disruption according to the original policy. We have already secured sufficient quantities and are pursuing securing additional quantities in case of an unexpected situation.”

According to the Blue House, with regard to vaccines, the Pan-Governmental Committee on Corona 19 Treatment and Vaccine, which was launched on April 24, is the main focus. Blue House Socialist Yoon Chang-ryul is participating in this committee. The Blue House serves as a control tower centered on the senior social center, which is being reported and commanded by President Moon.

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