The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on the 23rd that it signed a vaccine procurement contract for use in the "2026–2027 influenza (flu) national immunization program," which will run from this fall through next spring.
The total number of doses the government is purchasing this time is 12.33 million. The agency said it set the procurement scale by reflecting the actual number of vaccinations in the 2025–2026 season, the expected vaccination rate for the 2026–2027 season, and the results of a demand survey conducted by local governments in March–April this year.
The procurement was conducted through the Public Procurement Service's desired-quantity competitive bidding method. Winners were selected in order of the lowest price offered until the total demand was reached.
The contracted companies are six in total: ▲ SK bioscience ▲ GC Biopharma ▲ KOREAVACCINE ▲ Sanofi Aventis Korea ▲ Boryung Biopharma ▲ Ilyang Pharmaceutical.
By company supply volume, SK bioscience will supply the most at 2.7 million doses. GC Biopharma follows with 2.66 million doses. Next are Sanofi Aventis Korea with 2.25 million doses, KOREAVACCINE with 1.9 million doses, Boryung Biopharma with 1.77 million doses, and Ilyang Pharmaceutical with 1.05 million doses.
The agency also plans on-site inspections of storage facilities and transport equipment before vaccines are supplied to medical institutions. Im Seung-gwan, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "We plan to thoroughly inspect storage facilities and transport equipment, such as transport containers and vehicles, before vaccine delivery for the contracted suppliers," adding, "We will do everything we can to ensure safe vaccinations."