President Moon Jae-in on June 7 chairs the third special meeting to check epidemic prevention and control against COVID-19 at Cheong Wa Dae. (Cheong Wa Dae's official Facebook page)

By Xu Aiying and Yoon Hee Young

President Moon Jae-in on June 7 said, "With the inoculation proceeding in stages and now starting to include those in their 50s, 36 million people, or 70 percent of the total population, will have received their first dose by the end of the third quarter."

At the third special meeting to check epidemic prevention and control against COVID-19, he said, "The goal of providing 13 million people with their first vaccine shot is expected to be met by the end of this month."

"With the additional 1.01 million Janssen doses secured during my recent visit to the United States, it will even be possible to vaccinate over 14 million people within the first half of this year."

"The Global Vaccine Partnership agreed to at the Korea-U.S. summit will be implemented in a speedy manner," he added, "We will continue to provide support to maximize domestic vaccine production capacity while beginning follow-up consultations between the two countries in earnest."

On people returning to their daily routines, the president said, "The Government aims to make it possible for people to enjoy their upcoming summer vacations in a more relaxed manner," adding, "Another goal is to enable them to visit with family during the Chuseok break this year, as was once commonplace, and to take off their masks at least while talking to relatives." 

With summer vacation just around the corner, he said, "We will do our utmost to ensure that people are fully able to take a vacation even with meticulous epidemic prevention and safety measures in place."

"We will be sure to secure vaccine sovereignty."

The president said, "Support for domestic vaccine development will be strengthened," adding, "The Global Vaccine Partnership agreed to at the Korea-U.S. summit will be implemented in a speedy manner."

xuaiy@korea.kr