Amid delays in the supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Europe, South Korea's health authorities affirmed on Sunday that there are no changes in their plan to bring in AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine in the first quarter.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be produced by South Korea's SK Bioscience, will begin in the first quarter as planned.

South Korea signed a purchase deal with AstraZeneca for ten million doses.

Health authorities earlier said that the AstraZeneca vaccine produced by SK Bioscience in the country will be supplied from February or March in phases.

AstraZeneca reportedly said that it will cut deliveries of its vaccine to the European Union by 60 percent in the first quarter due to production problems.

Delays in supplies of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Pfizer prompted concerns and protest from European countries.