The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 3rd that it has set a budget of 1.3312 trillion won for next year, which is an increase of 65.1 billion won (5.1%) compared to this year. The increased budget will be used for expanding vaccination coverage and preparing for the outbreaks of new and mutated infectious diseases such as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It also expanded research and development (R&D) for vaccines and treatments. This budget plan will go through government reviews and National Assembly discussions before being finalized, so it may be adjusted downwards.
◇Expansion of youth vaccinations… HPV vaccine support for boys for the first time
One of the main focuses of the budget set by the disease control agency for next year is strengthening vaccinations. The overall budget for national essential vaccinations has increased from 357 billion won this year to 437.1 billion won next year. This amount reflects the budgets for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and youth influenza vaccinations, as well as the vaccination assistance budget for local governments.
The HPV vaccine for preventing cervical cancer and oropharyngeal cancer will now be provided for boys aged 12 years for the first time, in addition to the existing coverage for females aged 12 to 26. The target age for free influenza vaccinations for adolescents will also be expanded from those under 13 years to those under 14 years.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to enhance its surveillance system in preparation for a pandemic of infectious diseases. The number of respiratory infectious disease surveillance institutions will increase from 300 to 800, the number of pathogen surveillance institutions will grow from 50 to 100, and sewage-based infectious disease monitoring will expand from the current 99 to 105 treatment facilities.
A budget for stockpiling vaccines against MPOX, a typical biological weapon, has been set at 2.7 billion won, double this year's budget. The budget for managing and operating quarantine stations is 7.1 billion won, an increase of 500 million won from this year.
MPOX is an acute febrile and rash illness caused by monkeypox virus infection. It was named monkeypox after symptoms similar to smallpox appeared in laboratory monkeys in Germany in 1958, but in 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed the name to MPOX to eliminate stigma associated with monkeys and the disease.
◇Expansion of R&D investment, including bio big data construction
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has also increased its budget for vaccine and treatment development and research support. The budget for the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine R&D support program has been raised to 26.4 billion won, an increase of 1 billion won. New budgets of 8.6 billion won for infectious disease management technology R&D and 1.3 billion won for multi-department cooperation in infectious disease research focused on the mission of public institutions have been allocatd.
The budget for the national integrated bio big data construction project, which researches future medical technologies, has significantly increased from 1.2 billion won this year to 19.9 billion won next year. The budget for trait analysis R&D has also risen from 5 billion won this year to 11.8 billion won next year. A new budget of 3.2 billion won has been allocated for research aimed at protecting vulnerable populations such as children with obesity and diabetes, and the elderly with severe respiratory diseases.
However, the budget for chronic disease management has decreased from 72.3 billion won this year to 63.3 billion won next year, a reduction of 12.5%. The budget for infectious disease diagnostic analysis has slightly decreased from 33.6 billion won to 33.4 billion won.
Lim Seung-kwan, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, noted that "We have reduced unnecessary expenses and streamlined conventional projects," adding, "We focused on enhancing the core functions of the agency such as expanding vaccinations, preparing for the next pandemic, responding to chronic diseases, and developing vaccines and treatments."