[코로나19 365일 기록] 4. Healing-vaccination and treatment development-Gyeongbuk Daily

Vaccination starts in February… Raising expectations for’everyday recovery and end of pandemic’

A year has passed since the appearance of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19).

In the shortest year, over 97 million infections and over 2 million deaths have occurred worldwide. However, with the successful development of the Corona 19 vaccine, humanity, who has been helplessly affected by the virus so far, has hope that for the first time, the war against the virus can be ended.

In particular, this vaccine development is evaluated as a turning point in the history of human vaccine development in two aspects.

Corona 19 vaccine prevention efficacy was evaluated at 90%, which overwhelmingly exceeded experts’ expectations (around 55%).From development to phase 3 clinical trials, the stage just before commercialization, the usual 5-10 years, which is less than 1 year Is that it has advanced to.

In addition, as vaccination is expected to begin in Korea in February, expectations for daily recovery are also growing.

It is still too early to be relieved. As the amount of vaccine introduction is expected to be secured in the third quarter of this year, group immunity is expected to form after about 60-70% of the people have completed vaccination in November. At least this year, wearing masks and social distancing are expected to continue. I have to be patient with my desire to leave overseas.

△ Imminent vaccination.

In February, the long-awaited Corona 19 vaccine will be introduced in Korea and vaccination will begin.

The first vaccination is expected to take place around the beginning of next month, before the Lunar New Year holidays.

Initially, the government was scheduled to supply AstraZeneca vaccine at the end of February, but it is reported that the multi-national coalition’Covax Facility’ suggested supplying 50,000 Pfizer vaccines to Korea in early February.

In this regard, the government plans to confirm 250 corona19 vaccination centers within this month for smooth vaccination, while vaccinations for essential personnel such as medical staff will also be carried out by the beginning of next month.

Vaccination will be performed at the government-designated vaccination center according to the priority set by the government.

The government said that when the first vaccine comes in, it is fully preparing to start vaccination according to priorities without delay according to the vaccination plan set by the government.

One or more vaccination centers per city, county, or gu, and if the total population exceeds 500,000, about three are designated. Places preferentially utilize large-scale public facilities owned and managed by the state, local governments or public institutions. If there are no public facilities in the area, it was decided to allow national/public hospitals (health centers) to be limited.

The quarantine authorities also set up a vaccination management system to receive reservations sequentially from next month and issue vaccination certificates.

Both the drug and vaccination fees will be supported by the government so that all citizens can receive vaccinations for free.

In addition, foreigners residing in Korea are also included in the free vaccination target.

△ Who is right first?

The overall plan for the COVID-19 vaccination will be announced in January.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Control Headquarters (Heavy Soo-bon), said at a regular briefing on the 22nd, “A separate announcement will be made to the public in January, centered on the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

He added, “There has not been a final decision on the candidates for vaccination prior to vaccination,” he added. “We plan to have time to guide in detail through the announcement.” Next, quarantine general manager Yoon explained, “Through the announcement, I will tell you about the final vaccination priorities and specific vaccination plans,” and “I think it will be around the end of January.”

On the other hand, according to the recommended target (draft) for preferential vaccination released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 11th, workers in medical institutions, people living in group facilities and workers, the elderly (over 65 years old), adults with chronic diseases, and workers in education and childcare facilities for children and youth And employees, Corona 19 first responders, adults aged 50-64, police and fire officials, soldiers, prisoners and staff at correctional facilities and treatment centers were included as priority candidates.

Among them, it seems that medical staff, group facility residents, and workers are the first to receive the vaccine.

△ Are there any differences between vaccines?

Currently, there are 4 types of Corona 19 vaccines for which the government has signed a purchase contract for 56 million people.

Purchase contracts for 46 million people, including AstraZeneca 10 million, Pfizer 10 million, Modena 20 million, Janssen 6 million, have already been signed.

In addition, it decided to secure 10 million people through the COVAX facility, a multinational alliance, and paid 85 billion won in advance in October last year.

There is also a plan to promote pre-purchase for 20 million people through a technology introduction contract between Novavex, a US pharmaceutical company, and SK Bioscience.

The vaccines secured in this way are all for 76 million people.

When the vaccine is inoculated, the antigen components of the vaccine that have entered the human body stimulate immune cells (B cells).

The stimulated B cells make a neutralizing antibody that can remove the virus and store it in the body. When the Corona 19 virus invades the body through the respiratory tract, the antibody removes the invading virus.

Vaccine development-based technologies are largely divided into RNA (Pfizer Modena), virus vectors (AstraZeneca and Janssen), genetic recombination (Novabex), and inactivation methods.

RNA (Ribonucleic acid) vaccine is a vaccine that induces an immune response by inducing an antigenic protein in the body by injecting an antigen gene in the form of RNA.

Due to the short manufacturing period, mass production is possible quickly in a short period of time, but the main component, RNA, can be easily degraded by RNA degrading enzymes.

In addition, in order to maintain the structure (effect), it must be stored and transported in a cryogenic environment of -20 to -70°C, so it is essential to establish a cold chain for constant temperature maintenance when distributing vaccines.

A viral vector vaccine is a vaccine that induces an immune response by injecting an antigen gene into another virus template, such as adenovirus, which is harmless to the human body to produce an antigenic protein in the body.

Compared to RNA vaccines, it is relatively stable to heat, but since it uses live adenovirus, a cold chain of 4℃ or less is required, which is comparable to live vaccines.

Recombinant vaccines are one of the most frequently used vaccine platforms by inducing an immune response by directly injecting antigenic proteins made using genetic recombination technology.

Recombinant antigen protein alone can have a low immune response, so a formulation containing an adjuvant such as aluminum salt is generally required, and it is known as a vaccine with high safety due to long-term use.

Recombinant vaccines include hepatitis B vaccine and cervical cancer vaccine.

The inactivated vaccine is a traditional vaccine platform that induces an immune response by killing a virus and injecting it into the body as an antigen, and there are a number of vaccines developed.

A representative inactivating vaccine is the Corona 19 vaccine from Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinoparm. When securing an infectious virus, rapid development is possible, the manufacturing method is simple, and the induction of neutralizing antibodies is excellent.However, in the case of Corona 19 virus, the belly button may become larger than the belly as much as a production facility with a biosafety level 3 is required. In Korea, hepatitis A vaccine, polio vaccine for injection, and death vaccine for Japanese encephalitis are being used as inactivated vaccines.

△The vaccine came out… When is the domestic treatment?

Amid the emergence of COVID-19 mutant viruses from abroad, including the UK and South Africa, the craving for a’native’ vaccine to respond to these mutant viruses is growing.

In this regard, the government announced on the 20th that it will select two pharmaceutical companies, including Chong Kun Dang and Daewoong Pharmaceutical, to support the commercialization of two COVID-19 treatments in the first half.

On this day, the Ministry of Science and Technology and Information and Communication, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said, “We will consult with the Ministry of Health and Welfare to apply Napamostat and Camostat, two types of drugs for the treatment of Corona 19, which have completed Phase 2 through drug re-creation.” said.

Napamostat and Camostat are the main ingredients of’Napabeltan’ and’Hoystar Tablet’, which are commercially available by Chong Kun Dang and Daewoong Pharmaceutical, respectively, as a treatment for pancreatitis.

Last year, researchers at home and abroad reported to the academic community that they had higher antiviral efficacy than remdesivir. Unlike Celltrion’s antibody treatment, they are expected to treat severely ill patients.

Both companies plan to apply for conditional approval to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as soon as they draw the phase 2 results.

Along with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Science and Technology plans to support verification of the efficacy and safety of these drugs and speed up the commercialization.

Following the treatment, it plans to commercialize a semiconductor diagnostic kit that can check for corona infection within 3 minutes.

In this regard, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that it will develop a’semiconductor diagnostic kit’ that can check whether COVID-19 is infected in 3 minutes with a sensitivity of 95% or more, and commercialize it for the first time in the world in March.

The goal is to ensure that the development of the Korean Corona 19 vaccine, which the government is constantly pursuing, will be carried out early, and to secure 3 sets for responding to Corona 19, including diagnostic kits, treatments, and vaccines within the year.

Minister of Science and Technology Choi Ki-young said, “We will carry out the key tasks for early overcoming Corona 19, accelerating the digital transformation, and innovation in science and technology announced in the work plan with a sense of speed.”

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