With the start of the national immunization program (NIP) for influenza (flu) vaccines for children, pregnant women, and seniors 65 and older set for the 21st, the vaccine supply plan has hit a snag. Health authorities responded with an emergency measure by diverting domestic corporations' supply intended for general vaccinations to the NIP.
This is because Sanofi-Aventis Korea (hereinafter Sanofi), a global pharmaceutical company participating in the NIP project, failed to secure 500,000 doses from its originally contracted supply. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reduced Sanofi's allocation and decided to increase GC Biopharma's NIP supply by 500,000 doses. GC Biopharma converted doses that were originally slated for the private market to NIP use.
While health authorities and domestic corporations have put out the immediate fire for the NIP project, the reduction in the total flu vaccine stock available to the market could still affect supply and demand going forward.
Medical sites preparing for vaccinations are scrambling to secure vaccines. As major flu vaccines sold out one after another on prescription-only drug ordering platforms for clinics and hospitals, physicians' concerns are growing.
According to health authorities and the medical community on the 1st, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is scheduled to meet vaccine manufacturers and distributors that day to review the supply situation and discuss additional measures.
◇A 500,000-dose supply gap from Sanofi, filled by GC Biopharma
Based on ChosunBiz reporting, Sanofi, one of six companies selected as suppliers for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's 2026–2027 influenza NIP, recently informed health authorities that it failed to secure 500,000 doses.
Unlike domestic vaccine manufacturers, Sanofi imports and supplies finished goods produced overseas. The production schedule was delayed this year, and it reportedly could not meet the originally set quantity.
An official said, "The World Health Organization (WHO) announced its forecast strains later than in previous years, and as vaccine production was pushed back, Sanofi Korea could not meet the contracted volume."
In the end, the agency filled the gap by further increasing the allocation from domestic firm GCBiopharma.
The NIP procurement volume set by the agency for this flu season is 12.33 million doses. Initially, by company: SK bioscience(302440) 2.7 million doses, GC녹십자 2.66 million doses, Sanofi 2.25 million doses, KOREAVACCINE 1.9 million doses, Boryung(003850) Biopharma 1.77 million doses, Ilyang Pharmaceutical(007570) 1.05 million doses were assigned.
However, as Sanofi's supply dropped to 1.75 million doses, GC Biopharma added 500,000 doses in its place and will supply a total of 3.16 million doses for the NIP.
GC Biopharma said, "Considering the delivery timeline, we diverted doses originally intended for the private market to the NIP." Other suppliers reportedly told health authorities they do not have the capacity to produce an additional 500,000 doses within the schedule.
The agency's policy is to ensure the free flu vaccinations starting on the 21st proceed without disruption. However, because it filled NIP volumes by drawing from the private market, there are concerns it could affect overall vaccine supply.
A medical community official said, "Every year, depending on flu trends at home and abroad, there are fluctuations in demand for paid flu shots," and added, "For now, with the total annual flu vaccine volume effectively reduced by 500,000 doses, if demand rises much more than expected, supply could become tight."
Industry sources said, "It is unusual for a company that took part in a government bid to miss its supply volume," adding, "When selecting NIP contractors, the government should evaluate not only bid prices but also production capacity and on-time delivery potential."
◇NIP volume secured, but pediatric clinics face vaccine shortages
Health authorities and vaccine makers say there are no issues with vaccine production and supply since the NIP volume has been filled. However, it appears that medical sites are currently having difficulty securing vaccines.
According to the Korean Pediatric Association of Private Practitioners, major vaccines sold out on Bluepharm Korea and Misomall.com, drug distribution platforms for physicians and clinics.
Im Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Association of Private Practitioners, said in a phone call with this newspaper the previous day, "It was found that they sold out (temporarily out of stock) not only on some ordering platforms but on major distribution platforms," and added, "Our physician members in Korea are currently having difficulty obtaining NIP-eligible vaccines." Previously, physicians had said it was hard to secure sufficient flu vaccine volumes, and the shortage has worsened.
Although the government sets the NIP flu vaccine volume and suppliers, it does not distribute vaccines directly to clinic-level institutions. Because medical institutions such as pediatric clinics purchase vaccines directly from wholesalers or drug distribution platforms, the amount secured can vary by institution at the distribution stage.
Some also raised suspicions that certain wholesalers and distributors are exploiting supply concerns through high-priced sales and bundling.
A physician who requested anonymity said, "A Huons sales representative said Sanofi flu vaccine orders had closed, but offered to supply Sanofi flu vaccines on the condition that we purchase certain quantities of the company's other drugs, such as flu treatments and IV solutions." Huons(243070) has a contract with Sanofi and handles domestic distribution of Sanofi's flu vaccines.
Another physician said, "There is no NIP volume to supply to pediatric clinics at around 8,000 won, but there is general vaccine stock to supply at 15,000 won, according to the distributor." One physician claimed, "Some wholesalers and distributors are fueling supply anxiety to build margins and sales records, engaging in unfair distribution practices."
The Korean Pediatric Association of Private Practitioners is collecting reports from all members on unfair trade cases such as hoarding, high-price sales, and bundling. For distributors with potential legal violations, it plans to take all legal action, including filing complaints with the Korea Fair Trade Commission and requesting tax audits from the National Tax Service.
Meanwhile, the 2026–2027 influenza vaccination period runs from the 21st to Apr. 30 next year. This year, the number of NIP-eligible infants and children (6 months to 14 years old) is about 5.1 million, up 270,000 from last year. Children who need two doses and pregnant women will be vaccinated starting on the 21st, and children who need one dose will be vaccinated starting on the 28th.