정부, 코로나19 국내외 임상시험 전폭 지원... 백신 확보 준비 착착<br /><br />Health authorities in South Korea announced their plans on Friday to help secure treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 as soon as possible.<br />The government plans to support foreign clinical trials as well as training some 10-thousand professionals in the field.<br />Our Choi Jeong-yoon has more.<br />South Korea's effort to secure a COVID-19 vaccine is gaining steam.<br />The government on Friday announced its aims to develop a virus treatment by the end of the year and at least one vaccine by 2021 pledging its full support for domestic research.<br />"Many companies in South Korea are spurring on COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development... and the government is devoting its energy to the development's success though it could be little later than other countries."<br />The new layout for the plan focuses on securing enough clinical trials for pharmaceutical companies in the country.<br />The health officials emphasize the need for citizens' interest and active participation in human trials.<br />For this, the government will open a website just for COVID-19 trials to provide specific information... while encouraging patients in triage centers to enroll in trials.<br />To speed up the process, it will standardize guidelines for screening trials while revising pharmaceutical laws and regulations on passing research funds for the participating institutions.<br />Also on the list are plans to train some 10-thousand professionals in the field by 2025.<br />However, due to the limited number of COVID-19 patients in the country,... the government is also finding ways for domestic firms to test foreign patients.<br />Government departments, including the foreign ministry will aid companies to get swift approval from the related facilities abroad.<br />Seoul is also trying to secure supplies by purchasing vaccines produced outside the country.<br />So far, it has already acquired vaccines for 10-million people 20 percent of the total population by pre-paying some 75 million U.S. dollars into the COVAX Facility,... an initiative under the World Health Organization aiming to finance COVID-19 vaccines for fair distribution to all countries.<br />The rest will be provided directly by overseas pharmaceutical firms... based on the vaccines' safety, effectiveness, price and when they can be made available for use.<br />Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.<br />
