South Korean authorities currently reviewing authorization for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will hold the first expert advisory consultation this weekend.

According to the pharmaceutical industry on Saturday, the Food and Drug Safety Ministry on Sunday will hold a meeting of outside experts to verify vaccine safety and efficacy. The results will be revealed Monday.

British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca was the first vaccine developer to file an application for a permit with Seoul's Drug Safety Ministry early this month.

Its vaccine involves two shots and can be stored at temperatures of two to eight degrees Celsius and therefore does not require cold chain storage.

South Korea has signed a deal with the firm to purchase doses for ten million people.

Meanwhile the European Medicines Agency on Friday recommended the AstraZeneca vaccine for conditional market authorization and the European Commission then gave its final approval for use in the 27-member bloc.