[연합시론] First shipment of vaccine in Korea… Government and politics must work together to ensure that the vaccination plan is not disrupted.

Korea’s first new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine was shipped on the 24th. The vaccine of AstraZeneca, which was commissioned by SK Bioscience in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was transferred to various places across the country tomorrow through the logistics center in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, and from the day after tomorrow to residents and workers under the age of 65 at nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, mental care and rehabilitation facilities Are inoculated. In addition, 58,000 Pfizer vaccines supplied through the COVAX facility, an international project for joint vaccine purchase, will arrive in Korea the day after tomorrow. Medical staff who treat corona patients are subject to vaccination. This vaccine shipment and vaccination, as Prime Minister Chung Sye-gyun said, means “taking the first step in daily recovery.” This is because, after all, the last resort to get out of the long tunnel of the corona crisis is a vaccine. However, there are still many mountains to overcome in order to achieve the government’s goal of building collective immunity by November. Even if we have secured the vaccine for 79 million people, which is more than the total population of Korea, we must ensure that the supply is not too late, and the vaccination rate must be raised by relieving public anxiety. In addition, the trend of the spread of the mutant virus and the efficacy of the vaccine should be closely monitored and responded. Half of the people were vaccinated, but taking the case of Israel, where 3,000 confirmed cases occur every day, it is of course a prerequisite to strictly follow the quarantine guidelines until completely out of the tunnel.

For the success of the vaccination plan, securing public trust is more important than anything else. In this regard, the recent confusion and controversy over the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is first vaccinated in Korea, is very disappointing. There is a side in which the government’s attitude of fluctuating whether or not to inoculate the elderly 65 years or older has raised distrust. Moreover, AstraZeneca vaccine, which accounts for most of the initial supply, has a prophylactic effect of 62-70%, the lowest among the vaccines secured by the government. Pfizer is 95%, Modena is 94.1%, NovaVax is 89.3%. A recent poll also showed that there is an increasing number of reserved responses to whether to receive vaccination. However, the AstraZeneca vaccine is also a product that has been recognized for efficacy and safety internationally, only that clinical trials for the elderly are somewhat lacking. A study found that the risk of hospitalization 4 weeks after vaccinating the vaccine fell by 94%, which is better than the 85% Pfizer vaccine. Although several vaccines have their own advantages and disadvantages, it has already been medically proven that they are all effective in preventing infection. It should be borne in mind that trust in vaccines rather than vaccine effectiveness determines the success or failure of quarantine.

In particular, the recent politician’No. 1 vaccination’ battle is deplorable. Even if the opposition party’s assertion that President Moon Jae-in took the initiative to resolve the public’s distrust is a genuine proposal, it is not desirable to bring the issue of quarantine into the realm of politics. This is because, contrary to the intention, such claims themselves rather amplify anxiety about vaccines. It is also frivolous that the ruling party legislator rhymed with the’test subject’. At the end of last year, Kim Tae-yeon, head of the ruling Democratic Party, remarked that “it has been reported that there are side effects such as allergic reactions and facial paralysis after vaccination” to refute the criticism that the vaccine is insufficient. It is also irresponsible to argue that it is very fortunate to have the opportunity to observe problems occurring in the country where the vaccination is first given for a month or two. The politicization of quarantine and the politicization of vaccines is the way to make all of our people losers. The government and politicians are urged to be more faithful to their role and to show more prudent attitude in managing messages so as not to disrupt vaccination plans for the lives and safety of the people.

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