Astra more effectively … Why is criticism reversed?

AstraZeneca vaccine [사진=로이터 연합뉴스]

When AstraZeneca, a British global pharmaceutical company, announced that it had succeeded in significantly increasing the effectiveness of the Corona 19 (novel coronavirus infection) vaccine, the government’s decision to sign a contract with this company is being re-examined.

It is noteworthy how national public opinion will change, as there have been many negative evaluations that the government has been lukewarm about securing a vaccine from Pfizer and modder, an American pharmaceutical company known to be more effective.

According to the AFP news agency on the 27th (local time), Pascal Sorio AstraZeneca, CEO, said: “We have found the winning formula for the Corona 19 vaccine developed jointly with the University of Oxford” and “We are 100% confident in prevention of serious infections “. said.

CEO Sorio said: “The results of the clinical trial showed similar levels of efficacy of the vaccine with other competitors through two injections. These data will be published at some point in the future.”

Among pharmaceutical companies that previously announced the results of phase 3 clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine is known to be 95% effective and the Modena vaccine to be 94.5% effective. On the other hand, the AstraZeneca vaccine showed an average of 70% efficacy as a result of the initial phase 3 clinical analysis, but was criticized for being less reliable as it showed 90% efficacy if the dose was changed to half the level. .

In the course of the coronavirus 3 pandemic, national public opinion has been critical of the government that has not secured Pfizer, modders or vaccines in the early stages. Along with rumors that the government had negotiated with AstraZeneca, which is less effective in preventing vaccine purchase costs, it was noted that the timing of the vaccine purchase had been missed by relying on ‘K quarantine’.

However, with the announcement by CEO Sorio that day, the Korean government’s election, which had negotiated with AstraZeneca before Pfizer and Modena, is also being reviewed.

As the preventive effect of the vaccine improves, which was considered a weakness of the AstraZeneca vaccine, it is expected to be relatively competitive. First of all, the AstraZeneca vaccine costs between $ 3 and $ 5 (about 3,300-5,500 won), which is cheaper than Pfizer and Modena.

Furthermore, compared to Pfizer, which must be distributed through a ‘cold chain’ at a cryogenic temperature below -70 degrees Celsius, it has the advantage of being able to distribute from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, which has advantages in transportation and storage. Another advantage is that it can be manufactured in Korea by signing a vaccine shipment production contract with SK Bioscience in July this year.

Seth Berkeley, president of the Global Association for Vaccine Immunity (GAVI), commented: “As the AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored for up to 6 months in a general refrigerator, it is an ideal vaccine that can be easily distributed in poor developing countries. “. Received.

A bioindustry official said: “Another strength of the AstraZeneca vaccine is that it was manufactured in a traditional way.” “Since the cryogenic method has the potential to cause several variables in the distribution process, the AstraZeneca vaccine may be more free of side effects.” He explained.

British Prime Minister Johnson Visits AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine Production Site [사진=로이터 연합뉴스]

Reporter Kang Kyung-joo [email protected]

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