[국제]Germany, 65 years of age or older AZ vaccination will soon be approved…other countries will follow

[앵커]

Due to the lack of research on the elderly, many countries exclude vaccination of the elderly in the case of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Korea is no exception, but it is known that Germany, which banned vaccination over the age of 65, will soon change its policy and put it in the target.

Other countries’ stances are also expected to follow.

Reporter Kim Jeong-hoe reports.

[기자]

European countries initially looked forward to supplying the AstraZeneca vaccine.

However, I turned my head when the EU-level approval for use was granted.

Seven countries, including Germany and France, only required vaccinations under the age of 65, and Switzerland withheld the national vaccination altogether.

This is because data from clinical trials for 65 years and older were insufficient.

In a situation where the shortage of vaccines was intensifying, the European Union issued recommendations for use, but when each country looked at it from the perspective of actual public safety, it felt that revalidation was necessary.

But Germany rebelled.

[로타르 빌러 / 로베르트 코흐 감염병 연구소장 : 아스트라제네카 백신이 입원을 크게 줄인 것으로 나타났습니다. 이 백신이 매우 효과적이라는 뜻입니다. 이 백신을 받아들이지 않는 사람도 있다는데 옳지 않습니다.]

Thomas Mertens, the chairman of the vaccination committee, also appeared on a broadcast, saying, “There is a possibility that the elderly will also be allowed to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.

We will release updated new recommendations soon.”

Germany’s change of position is due to a recent study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

On the 22nd, the researchers published a paper that contained the results of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine’s prevention of hospitalization 4 weeks after the first vaccination, citing that the AstraZeneca vaccine has a high effect on the elderly.

It is based on the results of 210,000 people in their 80s, where the vaccination rate for this vaccine was higher than in other age groups.

According to the results, 80% of the effects were maintained after the first vaccination for those over 80 years old, and 79% of the effects were obtained after the first vaccination for 65 to 79 years old.

As important evidence for the use of older people was secured, Canada approved the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine on the 26th, targeting all adults 18 years of age and older without any separate age restrictions.

There is a high possibility that Germany and other countries will turn around one after another, but Korea seems to be no exception.

It seems that there is a high possibility that additional approvals will be given to form’collective immunity’ in November, as the exception condition was added when excluding 65 years of age or older.

[정은경 / 질병관리청장 (지난 8일) : 효과에 대한 추가적인 자료들은 요청해서 일부 아마 확보한 것으로는 알고 있는데요. 다양한 경로를 통해서 효과와 안전성에 대한 정보들을 수집하고 의사결정을 하도록 하겠습니다.]

The decision of the authorities is noted.

This is YTN Kim Jeong-hoe.

[저작권자(c) YTN & YTN plus 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]