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The government announced that it will begin vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) from February to March next year, and its goal is to form a herd immunity within three quarters. Yunhap news
The government announced that it will begin vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) from February to March next year, and that it will complete vaccination to 60-70% of people in the third quarter to form ‘herd immunity’. However, it was confirmed that the third quarter of next year (June-September) must pass before more than half of the vaccines (for 24.5 million people) are available that the government has signed a purchase contract or you hope to buy. The difficulties are expected to form herd immunity before next winter.
In a regular briefing on the 28th, Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Defense Countermeasures Headquarters, said: “As announced on the 24th, the government decided to purchase a total of 46 million vaccines (87 million doses ). Of these, 36 million people (for a total of 66 million doses) have completed the purchase contract, and contracts for 10 million people (for a total of 20 million doses) are ongoing. “” The pre-purchased vaccine is in the first quarter of next year (February to March). ), they will enter Korea sequentially. ”
Regarding the timing of group immunity formation, Jung explained: “Our goal is to provide vaccines on a scale capable of forming group immunity by at least the third quarter of next year, and we are establishing a detailed plan to ensure the amounts of vaccine and vaccination “.
In general, as the number of individuals with immunity in the population increases, the probability of infection of non-immune individuals decreases. Population immunity refers to a condition in which, when the majority of the population has antibodies to infectious diseases, the spread of infectious diseases is slowed or stopped, and even people without antibodies receive indirect protection. Generally, for the formation of population immunity, 60-70% of the total population must have antibodies.
“The amount of vaccine for 46 million people that the government decided to buy is an amount that can be adjusted to 88.8% of the total population of 5183 million in Korea and 104.3% of the 44.1 million elderly people. 18 years of age who can be vaccinated ”. “It is a sufficient quantity to form the immunity of the national population,” he explained. The population eligible for vaccination excludes children and adolescents under 18 years of age and pregnant women. This is because clinical studies on the Corona 19 vaccine have not yet been conducted.
The government plans to begin vaccinating 1 million people, including those working in medical institutions to maintain the function of the health care system, and older people living in hospitals and nursing facilities, among which are recommended for vaccination first, and plans to expand it sequentially. A detailed vaccination plan is due to be announced in January next year.
Image of AFP data from the modena ‘Corona 19’ vaccine that the government decided to introduce. Yunhap news
However, contrary to the government’s goal, the time when mass immunization can be completed is expected to be at the end of next year. The vaccines planned to be introduced in Korea are 10 million from AstraZeneca, 6 million from Janssen, 10 million from Pfizer, 10 million from Modena and 10 million from COVAX Facility (joint purchasing method through COVAX Facility and WHO).
The government expects that 20% of the national population (approximately 10 million people) can cover the amount that can be covered through the Kobax Facility. To do this, an advance of 85 billion won was sent on October 9. However, the specific supply schedule for the number of insured Cobax facilities has not been confirmed. At a high-ranking party, government and government meeting on the 27th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said: “Of the total volume of Kovacs, 1.5 million people (3% of the population) will be in the first half of next year, and the remaining 8.5 million people (17% of the population) will be provided in the second half of the year. Yes. It is expected to show up in January without a specific supply schedule. ”
Pfizer vaccines will begin entering the third quarter as soon as possible, but November through December is expected to pass all promised quantities. The Modena vaccine is expected to write a contract in January next year as a review stage of the purchase contract. I don’t know when it will arrive.
AstaraZeneca’Corona 19 ‘vaccine. Reuters = Yonhap News
The most rapidly introduced vaccine is for 10 million AstraZeneca. It will be introduced in February-March and vaccination will begin immediately. The AstraZeneca vaccine is currently in phase 3 trials, the final phase of a clinical trial. It has not yet been approved for temporary use in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Also, unlike the Pfizer-Modena vaccines that have been vaccinated abroad, the AstraZeneca vaccine has recently started a clinical trial targeting people over 65 years of age. Depending on the clinical results, the government’s estimate that the elderly living in a group will be vaccinated first may deviate. The addition of some of the Kovacs to be introduced in the first half of next year (for 1.5 million people) and the 6 million people at Janssen, expected to be introduced in the second quarter, falls short of the amount. necessary to form herd immunity.
Kim Woo-joo, professor of infectious medicine at Korea University Hospital, said: “Even if Janssen, Pfizer and AstraZeneca enter in the third quarter of next year, there are 26 million people. “It’s a shame,” he said. “Taking into account that the effect of the vaccine is at the level of 70-90%, it is necessary to ensure additional amounts for group immunization.” He added: “The persistence of the vaccine is also uncertain. It is not known if the antibody will remain after 6 months,” he added. “For group immunization, it is effective for all people to get a vaccine that is effective in a short period of time.”
Jae-wook Choi, professor of preventive medicine at Korea University, said: “In order to build group immunity, it is important not only to ensure the amount of vaccination, but also to plan the vaccination. This plan must be thoroughly discussed and disclosed in a transparent manner. The vaccination strategy is very important. The priorities are completely different depending on whether the vaccination is aimed at preventing the spread of infection or reducing mortality ”. Professor Choi said: “If we want to stop the spread through herd immunity, the results can change enormously in a month or two which group to focus on and start vaccination. Like the United States or Europe, we must continue to analyze the characteristics of the infection and design an inoculation strategy. “The government is only announcing the moment of its introduction. It is important to communicate transparently with the public about when and who to vaccinate. ”
Reporter Lee Tae-yoon [email protected]
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