94. A very complex and nuanced problem
When the news of the development of the COVID-19 vaccine came on the screen, I cheered.
“Is it fully developed? How effective is it?”
“Well, we did a phase 2 clinical trial in the US at the same time, and the results are that it’s 98% effective at preventing infection. Of course, mass vaccinations may show different results, but for now, it’s the best vaccine we have in development.”
“That’s great, hahahahaha, but what about approval?”
“The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the FDA in the U.S. will give us emergency approval at the same time today.”
“hahahahaha! We’re the first, right?”
“We are the first in the Western world, Mr. Chairman.”
“Huh? In the Western world?”
If it’s the first, it’s the first, but why the Western world?
Does that mean there’s a separate Eastern world?
“There are reports that the People’s Liberation Army has been inoculated with a vaccine developed two weeks ago in China, the country of origin.”
“What? Is that possible?”
“They say it’s possible if it’s China, but this is for Vice President Min Myung-ki to explain.”
The screen flashed to Min Myung-ki, and he spoke up.
“Mr. Chairman, this is Min Myung-ki.”
“Ah, go ahead.”
“From what we know, it appears that China has succeeded in developing a vaccine. This is possible because so many people were infected in the early days of the outbreak, mainly in the Wuhan area. It’s just—.”
“Just what?”
“The type of vaccine is said to be a killed vaccine.”
“A dead vaccine?”
“Yes. It’s also called an inactivated vaccine, but despite the name, it’s made by killing a live virus. It utilizes the principle that when a dead virus enters the body, the body considers it a threat and develops immunity. This is the traditional method of vaccination that has been used for a long time.”
“Isn’t it a lot different from the vaccines we’ve developed?”
“Of course it’s very different. Quadrivalent vaccines have the advantage that they are easy to develop and can be stored at room temperature, making them easy to manufacture and distribute. However, I have my doubts about its suitability for this coronavirus.”
“Why?”
“Because immunity is built up in stages, so the immunity built up from a single shot is weak, and above all, it is very vulnerable to mutating viruses. It’s not for nothing that we or the leading pharmaceutical companies in Western countries, including the United States, are developing mRNA-based or DNA-based vaccines.”
“Ah—.”
“So, in a nutshell, I’m not saying it doesn’t work at all, but it’s not the right way to go, at least not for this COVID-19.”
Phew, I almost dropped my liver.
A vaccine is good news no matter who develops it, but it’s not good news when it’s developed by the Chinese, whose shoddy response has spread the virus around the world.
Especially if it’s China, which has been bullying its neighbors with a strange hegemonic streak ever since Chiang Kai-shek came to power.
I can’t imagine what China would do with a decent vaccine if they did develop one.
“So our vaccine is okay?”
“Absolutely. We have the foresight of the chairman to—.”
“You mean, without the embarrassing modifiers, right?”
“It’s true, but what’s embarrassing?”
“…”
I’m ashamed.
Very embarrassed.
“With Chairman Hagan’s excellent foresight—.”
“…”
I told you not to do it, and now you’re doing it again.
“We’ve developed a highly perfected mRNA vaccine because we got a year’s head start on everyone else. No one else can match us on this. No one else.” “Ho-ho!”
“Given enough time, it has almost no side effects, and we’ve even improved its storage below minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which was its biggest weakness, so that it can be distributed as long as it’s refrigerated. Plus, a single dose provides at least a year’s worth of protection, so to cut to the chase, we’re the best.”
Vice President Min Myung-ki’s face beams with pride.
“hahahahaha! I don’t know the details, but I get the gist of what you’re saying, so what about mass production?”
“Sasung Bio has already produced 120 million doses of the vaccine, or 120 million people.”
“Yes? No, how? Vaccine development is not over?”
“The development of the vaccine was actually finished in the middle of Phase II, after receiving the final feedback. We were so confident in our development team that Mr. Nam insisted that we go into production a month ago. Even if the vaccine goes wrong, we will compensate Sasung for any damages.”
“hahahahaha, good job, good job!”
This is why I’m lucky to work with great people.
If Mr. Nam had been afraid of being reprimanded and said that we would only produce the vaccine after final approval, it would have been pushed back almost a month.
So, am I to blame for delegating all the authority?
“No, Mr. Chairman. I wouldn’t have been able to do it if I was working for Sasung. It’s only because you trusted me so much and gave me the authority.”
“hahahahaha! I see, then how will you allocate the supply?”
“First of all, we only need 20 million doses for our own people right now. We’ll inoculate them in order of priority, which will take at least three months at the earliest.”
“I see.”
“So, out of the first batch, 20 million doses will go to us, and 50 million doses will go to the U.S. and a few others.”
“And the rest?”
“As per our existing policy, we’ll supply the countries that participated in the Korean War based on their current alliance importance, but we’d like to supply the hardest hit countries like Italy first, even if it’s a lower priority. Is that okay?”
“Please do so. However, Japan has a mind of its own, so please make sure you get my approval for any requests from Japan.”
“hahahahaha! I understand, ah! Your family and our Karma family will definitely be the first to be inoculated.”
“Of course!”
My family comes first.
And then there are others.
“We’ll send you a separate set of vaccines, and we’ll also send you and your family a set for Karma Investments employees in the US.”
“Ah! Thank you, but please be generous, so that our flagship investors like Tesla, Nvidia, and AMD get inoculated first.”
“hahahahaha! Got it.”
Later that evening at the White House, Donald appeared in the Oval Office press room with Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), in tow.
“Fellow citizens of the United States of America, I am the President of the great United States of America, and I have great news for you! We have developed a weapon against the dreaded coronavirus that has been threatening our lives.”
“Oh!”
“The vaccine has been developed and has just received emergency approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and our own FDA!”
“Woohoo!”
The press conference room quickly filled with excitement.
“Mr. President!”
“Mr. President, when will mass production start then!”
“Mr. President, when will we American citizens be able to get vaccinated!”
As the reporters swarmed him with questions, Donald relaxed his expression and burst into laughter.
“Kahahahaha!”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
“Kahahahahaha! Mass production has already begun, and our proud Air Force C-5 and C-17 transport planes are now flying toward Osan Air Base in South Korea. Two days from now, our American citizens will be inoculated!”
“Woohoo!”
“God Bless America!”
“God! Thank you!”
The press conference room descended into a frenzy, and The Donald stuttered and spoke again.
“I am the President of the great United States of America! I have made this possible with everything in my power! I want to thank you and my friend Alex for listening to my request for our country! Let’s be worthy!”
“Let’s have values!”
“Values!”
The press conference ended up resembling some sort of neo-religious rally, with many of the reporters chanting “Values!” without even knowing what it meant.
And then my brother Jeffrey, who was watching it with me on TV, said quietly, “I can’t believe this is happening.
“Isn’t this how this guy Trump gets re-elected?”
“…”
Then what do you want me to do?
“Don’t you think it’s going to be hard for Biden if this keeps up?”
“Money, more money—.”
“I see.”
“…”
True to Donald’s word, dozens of U.S. Air Force transport planes flew into South Korea.
A dozen C-5 M Galaxy transports and more than sixty C-17 Globemasters swooped in like they were going to bomb.
It’s the kind of vaccine delivery operation a nation could afford.
In addition, British and NATO C-17s have been arriving in droves, scrambling for available airports.
Plus all sorts of cargo charters.
“What’s the situation?”
Two days after the vaccine was approved, I reconnected the picture to Seoul, where our cadre of cheerful faces appeared on the screen.
“War, war. The ambassadors of almost every country except the United States have swarmed our Magog compound, and Karma security is on full alert.”
“Heh, no. What about work?”
“Everyone who can work from home has done so, and we haven’t been able to leave for three days.”
“Gee, that’s a lot of work.”
“Well, we’re better off.”
“Well, what do you mean?”
“They say that the presidents and prime ministers of more than 30 countries around the world are flying toward our country.”
“What? To our country? What do they want to do?”
“To meet our VIPs face-to-face and try to get a vaccine by any means necessary.”
“No. All those heads of state, all of a sudden, all at once, can you afford that?”
“That’s how many governments they’ve gotten together. They said it was originally over 60 countries.”
“…”
This is getting weirder than I thought.
“That’s the thing, any government that doesn’t deal with this is going to be blown to smithereens. That’s why they’re making such a fuss. They’ve even gotten Iranian President Hassan Rohani to come over.”
“Wow!”
The Iranian president is coming, and they’re making a real fuss.
Because since Trump took office, that lunatic broke the nuclear deal with Iran and put them on sanctions.
“Humph, that’s gotta be hard on the government.”
“Even VIPs have turned off their phones for the first time.”
“…”
“They say the government officials involved gave up work early.”
“After all, we need to mass produce the vaccine as soon as possible. What’s the status of mass production?”
“Sasung Bio is planning to increase production to 300 million doses this month and 500 million doses next month. TK Bio will also start production next month.”
“What about overseas production?”
“Only the U.S. is confirmed, and we’ll be self-sourcing North American volumes starting in September.”
“What about the rest of the world? It’s an urgent situation.”
“They’re talking, but they haven’t confirmed anything.”
“No, why not?”
“Because this is a very complicated and nuanced issue. If we get it wrong, we could end up fighting between countries, right?”
Oh, sh*t.