Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Joint operation performed by the military·police·public health center
The vaccine transportation task force completed its mission:
“We will do our best to enable residents to return to their daily lives”

The vaccine transportation task force has successfully carried out the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines to Baengnyeongdo Island, the northernmost point of the West Sea.

On March 4, the vaccine transportation task force under the ‘COVID-19 vaccination response team’ transported the COVID-19 vaccines to Baengnyeongdo, with the help of the Marine Corps Headquarters and the military police of the 6th Brigade of the Marine Corps, the Army Special Warfare Command, the Maritime Police, and the community health center.

The Thursday vaccine transportation started in the early hours of the morning. The vaccines, which had shipped from a logistics center in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, were transported to Yeonan Pier in Incheon, under the escort of special forces and police vehicles. Next, the vaccines were transported to Yonggipo Port, Baengnyeongdo after being shipped in a private vessel with the support of the military police of the Marine Corps. After arriving at Baengnyeongdo, the vaccines were safely transported to their final destination – Baengnyeongdo health center – under the escort of the military police of the 6th Brigade and the police.

“I am honored to perform the mission of transporting the first round of vaccines to Baengnyeongdo, the northernmost point of the West Sea, where the Marine Corps are stationed,” said First Sergeant Park Jeong-min of the 6th Brigade, who joined the transportation task force. “I am striving to fulfill this mission so that Baengnyeongdo residents can overcome the COVID-19 situation and return to their daily lives as soon as possible.”

“I think it is very meaningful to be carrying out a worthwhile mission for the people,” commented Corporal Lee Byeong-yul of the Jungbu Coast Guard SWAT team, whose mission was to respond to any contingencies in a private vessel by accompanying the military to Baengnyeongdo. “I will continue with the military to fulfill the mission until the COVID-19 crisis ends.”

Meanwhile, the vaccine transportation task force transported the Low Dead Space (LDS) syringes developed by a local company to 19 hospitals across the nation. On Thursday alone, 10,800 syringes were transported, and the total number transported so far is 104,800. The vaccine transportation task force has a plan to transport a total of 108,800 syringes to 83 hospitals in seven regions, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, Honam, and Jeju, by March 5.

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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