Vaccination against Astra-Pfizer started this week … What are the progress variables?

In the next four days, Korea will finally begin vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19).

The first serious step in defeating Corona 19, which has caused us pain for over a year, has begun.

Currently, the number of vaccines insured by the government is 79 million people, and there are enough left even if the entire population is affected once.

The problem is the speed of vaccination to target the formation of “herd immunity” by November this year.

According to quarantine authorities on the 22nd, vaccination against AstraZeneca will begin on the 26th. Starting on the 27th, Pfizer vaccines received through the COVAX facility, an international project for joint purchasing of vaccines, will begin.

Beginning on the 26th, the government will begin vaccinating against AstraZeneca for residents and workers under 65 at 5,873 nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, systemic and rehabilitation centers across the country.

At 0:00 on the 20th, a total of 280,927 people said they would receive the vaccine. This is 93.6% of the 3,089,930 pre-enrolled in 5,804 nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, which is 17,140 more than the estimated targets (272,131) when the government announced the vaccination plan in February and March.

The consent rate for the Pfizer vaccine, which will arrive at Incheon International Airport on the 26th of this month, is also around 95%.

Of the 58,029 medical employees and hospital workers treating Corona 19 patients, 94.6% of the 5,4910 people, or 94.6%, said they would receive the Pfizer vaccine. Only 5.4% (3,119 people) refused.

If there are no unexpected schedule changes, the Pfizer vaccine will begin on the 27th, the weekend.

However, it is difficult to predict how much the total inoculation rate will be if the inoculation range is gradually expanded in the future.

When Gallup Korea asked 1,000 people over the age of 18 to get vaccinated against Corona 19 from 16 to 18, 71% of those surveyed said they were willing to get vaccinated. 19% of respondents said they had no intention of getting vaccinated and about 10% of those surveyed withdrew their opinion.

In the midst of this, the medical-political conflict over the amendment to the medical law to revoke the license of a doctor who was sentenced to prison or higher is another variable.

The president of the 16 provincial and provincial medical associations nationwide made a statement on the 20th, the day after the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly approved the amendment to the medical law and said: “If this draft law is resolved by the National Legislative Judicial Committee, we will start a large-scale fight, such as a national medical strike. “It is clear that it will be a major obstacle to Corona 19’s response,” he warned.

The president of the Medical College, Choi, also pointed out at the second meeting of the ‘Joint Committee of the Corona 19 Vaccination Protocol’ the day before, “(at the time of the Judicial Committee’s resolution) all cooperation systems related to treatment crown 19 and vaccination will collapse. We have no choice but to hold a national strike. ”

If the strike becomes a reality, there could be breaks in the government’s plan to form herd immunity by November.

In this regard, Prime Minister Chung Sye-gyun said at a meeting of the Security and Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters the day before, “When we need to mobilize for a successful vaccination, the medical council opposes the discussion on the amendments to the medical measures of the National Assembly “. law, expressing the possibility of a general strike, causing a lot of public concern. “He stressed that” if illegal collective action becomes a reality, we will respond firmly. ”

[이상규 매경닷컴 기자 [email protected]]

[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]