Moon meets AstraZeneca's CEO to discuss vaccine cooperation
President Moon Jae-in bumps fists with with the head of AstraZeneca, Saturday, ahead of a meeting where he reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation in the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Yonhap
President Moon Jae-in had a meeting with the head of AstraZeneca, Saturday, and reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation in the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Moon's office said.
During talks here with Pascal Soriot, executive director and CEO of the pharmaceutical firm, based in Cambridge, Britain, Moon requested that the two sides maintain collaboration in the biohealth sector for the stable production and supply of coronavirus vaccines, the presidential office said.
AstraZeneca's product is a core element in South Korea's vaccination campaign that began in February.
SK Bioscience, a subsidiary of the Seoul-headquartered SK Group, produces AstraZeneca's vaccine in its local plant under a consignment contract.
Moon told Soriot that South Korea began its vaccination program with AstraZeneca's doses.
He thanked the firm for its contribution to Seoul's procurement of vaccines, as it aims to get 14 million people inoculated by the end of June.
The AstraZeneca CEO appreciated the nation's role in the COVAX Facility, saying vaccines produced there have been speedily distributed to 75 nations through the coalition, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Moon is on a visit to this southwestern British county to attend a Group of Seven (G-7) Summit. The AstraZeneca head was also invited to join a G-7 session on vaccines and a sustainable future alongside other business leaders. (Yonhap)