Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun says the country’s first batch of Pfizer vaccines to be procured through the COVAX Facility global project will likely arrive late February or early March. 

Chung made the remark while presiding over a situation assessment meeting on vaccines and treatments at the Government Complex in Sejong City on Tuesday. 

The prime minister earlier projected the Pfizer vaccine arrival for mid this month. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said on Monday that delays may occur due to lingering administrative procedures concerning deals and distribution plans. 

The readjusted prospect makes it certain that AstraZeneca vaccines will be the first COVID-19 jabs to be administered to the South Korean public. 

Under the government’s plan, one-point-five million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to be produced domestically by SK Bioscience in its partnership with the British-Swedish firm will arrive between February 24 and 28. They are included in the deal South Korea made to directly purchase from AstraZeneca enough vaccine to inoculate 10 million people.