The rollout of the first batch of AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured by a South Korean vaccine producer will begin on Wednesday. 

According to health authorities, the COVID-19 vaccines manufactured at a SK Bioscience factory in the southeastern city of Andong will be transported to a distribution center in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday morning. 

The first batch of one-point-five million doses will then be transported to health centers, geriatric hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities across the nation on Thursday to inoculate employees and patients under 65 at the facilities. Ulleung Island in the East Sea is likely to receive the vaccines on Friday. 

Inoculation with the AstraZeneca vaccine will begin in earnest from 9 a.m. on Friday. 

About 289-thousand people at geriatric hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities expressed their intent to receive the vaccine.