[국제]WHO approved for emergency use of Janssen vaccine… “No reason to stop AstraZeneca”

[앵커]

The World Health Organization’s WHO has approved the emergency use of this COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been discontinued in some countries due to reports of blood clots in some vaccinators, said there was no reason to stop using the vaccine.

Connect with reporters from the International Department to learn more. Reporter Lee Dong-heon!

Can you give us the news of emergency use approval for Janssen vaccine?

[기자]

Yes, the World Health Organization WHO has approved emergency use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

The WHO says the wealth of data from large-scale clinical trials shared by Janssen shows that the vaccine works for older people as well.

WHO’s urgent use decision was based on the recommendation of the European Medicines Agency the previous day for approval.

The Janssen vaccine is expected to significantly increase the rate of vaccination because it only needs to be given once, unlike other vaccines that require two shots.

In addition, it must be stored at -20 degrees Celsius, but it can be maintained at 2 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius for 3 months, and the shelf life is 2 years.

WHO announced that it has reserved 500 million doses of Janssen vaccine for’CoVax’, which is responsible for co-purchasing and distributing the Corona 19 vaccine.

[앵커]

Some countries recently stopped using the vaccine because of a blood clot formed in the AstraZeneca vaccination, but the WHO said there was no reason to stop using it?

[기자]

Yes, the WHO stressed that the Vaccine Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the safety data for the AstraZeneca vaccine, and that a causal relationship has not been established between the vaccine and blood clots.

The WHO has reviewed the data on deaths, but said there have been no deaths from vaccination so far, and the AstraZeneca vaccine should continue to be used.

WHO added that it will disclose the findings of the investigation as soon as it has a full understanding of the death event.

AstraZeneca’s analysis of more than 10 million cases also revealed that it found no evidence that its vaccines increased the risk of developing blood clots.

In Austria and Italy, cases of clotting of blood after AstraZeneca vaccination were reported, and certain manufacturing units of vaccination were stopped.

[앵커]

There has also been a forecast that COVID-19 vaccination for teenagers under the age of 16 will be possible in a few weeks, right?

[기자]

Yes, this is what Pfizer’s CEO, who produces Pfizer vaccines, said.

Corona 19 vaccination for adolescents under the age of 16 has not been achieved due to the lack of clinical trial results so far.

It is reported that Pfizer is conducting additional clinical trials in adolescents from 12 to 16 years old from December of last year.

Pfizer’s CEO said he expects that adolescents from 12 to 16 years of age will be given Pfizer vaccination within a few weeks, given that the timing of vaccinations for adolescents is entirely up to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval.

It is also predicted that the Pfizer vaccination will be given to younger elementary school students by the end of the year.

Experts predict that group immunization will be difficult unless vaccination is given to this age group, which accounts for 30% of the total population, and in Israel, which has a high vaccination rate, more than half of the new confirmed cases are in teens.

So far, the International Department has delivered it.

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