World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Feb. 15 told an online media briefing that his organization approved the emergency use of two versions of AstraZeneca's vaccines against COVID-19 produced through consignment manufacturing, one by SK Bioscience of Korea and the other by the Serum Institute of India. The photo shows President Moon Jae-in on Jan. 20 visiting SK's factory in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, and inspecting the production of COVID-19 vaccines. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Feb. 15 said it approved the emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Oxford University of the U.K. and the multinational pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online media briefing that his organization listed the version of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced by SK Bioscience of Korea and another made by the Serum Institute of India.

The emergency use listing "assesses and assures the quality, safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines," he added.

"Although both companies are producing the same vaccine, because they are made in different production plants, they required separate reviews and approvals."

Through this approval, the COVAX Facility, an international project for the joint purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, is expected to soon distribute the AstraZeneca vaccines.

WHO approval of the vaccine for emergency use is a prerequisite for the facility to distribute vaccines.

jihlee08@korea.kr