The government on Aug. 21 held the fifth meeting of a pan-government support committee for the treatment of COVID-19 and development of a vaccine. The photo above is of Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on the same day holding a regular briefing on the pandemic's status. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hyelin and Lee Jihae

The government is pushing to secure enough vaccines against COVID-19 to cover 70% or more of the nation's population.

In the fifth meeting of a pan-government support committee for the treatment of the coronavirus and development of a vaccine, the government on Aug. 21 announced a strategy of adopting vaccines and immunization against COVID-19.

The goal is to secure enough vaccines for the entire populace, and if not possible, at least for 70% of the people to form herd immunity.

The government said it is actively participating in discussions on international distribution of COVID-19 vaccines held by the COVAX Facility, which is led by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the vaccine alliance GAVI.

Seoul submitted a form to COVAX saying it will participate in the talks, and agreed to expedite individual negotiations with corporations that lead global vaccine development.

The facility aims for equal distribution of vaccines to 20% of the world's population. Further attainment of vaccines through separate negotiations with corporations is necessary to procure enough doses for 70% of Korea's population.

The government concluded agreements on domestic vaccine provision with SK Bioscience, AstraZeneca and Novavax. Seoul also plans advance payments to corporations showing high promise of successful vaccine development, such as those in the third phase of clinical trials, to secure vaccines in advance.

The clinical trials of domestic corporations developing treatment and vaccines for COVID-19 are receiving government funding, with the development of five treatments and three vaccines receiving such support.

With the pandemic seeing a recent resurgence in the capital region, the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Aug. 24 at midnight made mask wearing mandatory at all public places within the city. People in Seoul thus must wear a mask not only indoors but also at outdoor venues where crowds gather, except in situations when removing masks is necessary such as eating.