COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Asia: A Region-by-Region Breakdown

Strategic Insights -

As regulators in Asia consider approval for COVID-19 vaccines developed by various pharmaceutical companies, details of estimated distribution timelines, announced supply deals, and clinical trials in the region are emerging. Singapore has become the first country to begin inoculation, with advanced purchase pacts and early down-payments on vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Other countries in the region, such as Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, have secured significant supplies of vaccines, while China and India are also making progress in developing and distributing their own vaccine candidates.

Key Takeaways:

  • Singapore has become the first country in Asia to begin inoculation with the Pfizer vaccine, with an expected 3.8 million people vaccinated by the third quarter of 2021.
  • Australia has secured about 140 million doses of vaccine, with 3.8 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine expected to be delivered in January and February 2021.
  • China has not announced supply deals with Western drugmakers, but AstraZeneca's vaccine may be approved in China by mid-2021, with production capacity of at least 100 million doses by the end of 2021.
  • Japan has deals to buy 120 million doses from Pfizer/BioNTech in the first half of 2021 and 120 million from AstraZeneca, with the first 30 million doses to be shipped by March 2021.
  • South Korea has deals to buy 20 million doses each from AstraZeneca and Pfizer, 40 million from Moderna, and 4 million doses from Johnson & Johnson's Janssen.
  • India is expected to begin inoculations in late February, with a government-backed vaccine to be launched as early as February, and a late-stage trial of Sputnik V also underway.
  • Taiwan aims to secure around 15 million doses initially, both via the COVAX scheme and by direct purchase from manufacturers, and may buy an additional 15 million doses.
  • Malaysia has agreed to buy 12.8 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and is in talks with the firm and others to secure more, while the Philippines has signed only one supply deal, with 2.6 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
  • Indonesia has secured 125.5 million doses from Sinovac and 30 million from Novavax, while Vietnam is likely to have a chance to secure separate deals soon, as demand is very high.
  • Bangladesh has signed a deal with India's Serum Institute to buy 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and also expects to receive 68 million doses from global vaccine alliance GAVI at a subsidised rate.

Statistics:

  • Singapore: 5.7 million people to be vaccinated by the third quarter of 2021
  • Australia: 140 million doses of vaccine secured, with 3.8 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine expected to be delivered in January and February 2021
  • China: production capacity of at least 100 million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine by the end of 2021
  • Japan: 120 million doses from Pfizer/BioNTech in the first half of 2021, 120 million from AstraZeneca, with the first 30 million doses to be shipped by March 2021
  • South Korea: 20 million doses each from AstraZeneca and Pfizer, 40 million from Moderna, and 4 million doses from Johnson & Johnson's Janssen
  • Indonesia: 125.5 million doses from Sinovac, 30 million from Novavax
  • Vietnam: likely to secure separate deals soon, as demand is very high
  • Bangladesh: 30 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India's Serum Institute, 68 million doses from global vaccine alliance GAVI at a subsidised rate

Sources:

  • "Regulators in Asia weigh COVID-19 vaccine approval" (Dec. 30)
  • Singapore: "Singapore begins COVID-19 vaccination campaign" (Dec. 30)
  • Australia: "Australia secures 140 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • China: "China approves AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use" (Dec. 30)
  • Japan: "Japan to buy 120 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • South Korea: "South Korea signs deals to buy 20 million doses each from AstraZeneca and Pfizer" (Dec. 30)
  • India: "India expects to begin COVID-19 inoculations in late February" (Dec. 30)
  • Taiwan: "Taiwan aims to secure 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • Malaysia: "Malaysia agrees to buy 12.8 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • Philippines: "Philippines signs deal to acquire 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • Indonesia: "Indonesia secures 125.5 million doses of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • Vietnam: "Vietnam likely to secure separate deals for COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)
  • Bangladesh: "Bangladesh signs deal to buy 30 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine" (Dec. 30)