As COVID-19 vaccination has been included in the National Immunization Program (NIP), changes to the operational system is anticipated.

Previously, government provided COVID-19 immunization service for high-risk groups. Whereas the previous service had been temporary, the current vaccination system is expected to become more established.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced that it will procure a total of 5.3 million doses of vaccine for the 2025-2026 season's COVID-19 NIP project through a private contract.

The suppliers have been determined as ▲Pfizer (3.28 million doses) ▲Moderna (2.02 million doses), with HK inno.N and Boryung Biopharma, respectively, serving as the domestic distributors (companies with exclusive sales rights) for the COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccination will target high-risk groups, including the elderly aged 65 and over and immunocompromised individuals aged 6 months and older. Vaccinations are scheduled to begin in mid-October.


This transition of the COVID-19 vaccination program to the NIP is analyzed as an effort to increase the efficiency and predictability of the vaccination system, as the demand for vaccination among high-risk groups persists.

The key to this transition is the establishment of a 'seasonal vaccination system'. Previously, vaccination plans were adjusted as needed based on the COVID-19 epidemic situation and vaccine supply conditions. However, after the NIP transition, it is expected that routine vaccinations will be standardized, like the flu vaccine.

Accordingly, the vaccination implementation guidelines, recommendation criteria, and vaccine distribution are also expected to be managed solely within the government system. For the 2024-2025 seasonal COVID-19 vaccine, vaccinations were administered from October 11th to April 30th.

However, as the incidence of COVID-19 increased not only in winter but also in summer, the vaccination period was extended from late April to June 30 of this year.

The financial structure will also change. Unlike the previous system of full state funding, a 'national+local government matching fund' model will be introduced for this NIP project.

The funding will consist of 30% national and 70% local government funds for Seoul, and 50% national and 50% local government funds for other regions. Since each local government will be responsible for executing the budget and managing vaccination rates, there is a possibility of differences in campaign intensity and implementation between regions.


Less Uncertainty for Pharmaceutical Suppliers...Expectations for Future Expansion of Vaccination Targets

For vaccine suppliers Pfizer and Moderna, the latest structural change is expected to be a favorable shift in terms of supply stability and business predictability.

Previously, COVID-19 vaccinations were based on government pre-purchase, with storage and delivery handled by government-commissioned companies. Such a system had possibility that the project could be terminated at any time based on the government's will.

Now that it is included in the NIP, a stable volume of vaccines will be secured, and production and supply plans can be formulated based on an annual procurement cycle.

From the government's perspective, even though the procurement is based on a private contract, price competitiveness and supply capabilities are included as evaluation factors, ensuring transparency in the supplier selection process.

However, the responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies are also expected to increase. Since manufacturers will be directly responsible for storage and delivery, the company's logistical capabilities, including maintaining the cold chain, handling returns, and managing product exchanges, will be a critical variable.

Although NIP vaccines have relatively fewer marketing elements, the availability of two vaccine options, along with the allowance for exchanges of vaccines nearing their expiration date and returns of up to 5%, means there is a high possibility of future competition between pharmaceutical companies.


In the clinical field, there is an expectation for a unified system, along with a focus on whether the target population will be expanded in the future. Currently, the program targets only high-risk groups, but it could be extended to the general population, similar to the flu (influenza), as the vaccination program becomes more established.

First, experts advise that a practical strategy is needed to improve vaccination rates alongside the implementation of the NIP.

Professor Woo Joo Kim of Korea University Guro Hospital's Department of Infectious Diseases stated in a meeting with DailyPharm, "High-risk groups, such as the elderly and those with underlying diseases, must be aware of their risk of infection and proactively get vaccinated. If they have symptoms, they must seek diagnosis and treatment quickly." Kim added, "At a societal level, a 'culture of resting when sick' needs to be established, and at a government level, an independent surveillance system for COVID-19 alone needs to be built."

Kim also added, "Data on the latest COVID-19 epidemic trends, disease burden, and vaccine efficacy and safety must be understood to formulate vaccination timing and public relations strategies swiftly."