SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) — South Korea is in the closing stages of creating a locally-made anthrax vaccine after a research project that began more than two decades ago, according to a ruling party representative on Thursday.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) intends to submit an application for the vaccine’s authorization this month based on the clinical trial results, said Rep. Lim Byung-heon of the People Power Party.
Once the immunization against the potentially deadly contagion is permitted, domestic production is expected to start in 2021, Lim stated.
The KDCA initiated the project in 2001 to prepare for potential biological terror attacks after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax mailing incidents in the US amid the threats posed by North Korea’s chemical and biological weapons programs.
South Korea has so far been dependent on anthrax vaccines produced by foreign companies, with the military currently possessing only 26,000 doses of such vaccines, according to Lim.
“While North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats present serious issues, biological attacks can also cause dire harm,” Lim was quoted as saying. “Once production begins next year, it is anticipated to be of great help in responding to North Korea’s biological terror.”
North Korea is thought to possess around 2,500 to 5,000 tons of chemical weapons and have the capacity to manufacture biological weapons, including anthrax, smallpox and the bubonic plague, as indicated by South Korea’s Defense White Paper.
This undated file photo shows a Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency building. (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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