Korea to receive 700,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine under exchange deal with Israel

An Israeli medical worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from the Magen David Adom during a campaign by the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality to encourage the vaccination of teenagers in Tel Aviv, July 5. AFP-Yonhap

South Korea will receive 700,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine by Pfizer Inc. from Israel under an exchange deal, health authorities said Tuesday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the expiring COVID-19 vaccine doses will arrive in the country early Wednesday and will be used for inoculation starting next week.

The KDCA said the country will give the same number of Pfizer vaccine doses to Israel later, possibly in September, and is also considering vaccine swap deals with other countries.

South Korea has inoculated 30 percent of its 51.3 million population with at least one shot since late February, but it has faced some glitches in proceeding with the vaccination program due to tight supplies. The KDCA said 5.32 million people have been fully vaccinated, accounting for 10.5 percent of the population.

The country aims to achieve herd immunity by November with more than 70 percent of its population vaccinated.

The KDCA said it hopes to reach its November goal earlier than targeted with the increased vaccine rollout following the arrival of the Pfizer doses from Israel.

Separately, another 627,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine under a direct contract with the pharmaceutical giant will arrive in the country Wednesday, it said.

South Korea has secured more than 100 million doses of vaccines. (Yonhap)