Korea to provide support for development of vaccines

South Korea's drug safety agency said Friday it will provide consulting to pharmaceutical firms over their development of seven vaccine products.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it will provide consulting to pharmaceutical firms over their laboratory tests, clinical trials, manufacturing and quality control of vaccines.

The seven products include vaccines for tuberculosis for adults and teenagers and for herpes zoster.

The move has raised the number of vaccine products that receive government support to 38, according to the drug safety agency.

The support is part of South Korea's efforts to increase the sufficient rate of vaccines from 50 percent in 2018 to 80 percent by 2022.

Vaccine development is expected to prevent between 2 and 3 million deaths globally every year, the ministry said. (Yonhap)