From the end of February, after the Lunar New Year holiday, vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) in Korea is expected to be in full swing. On the 24th of this month, AstraZeneca vaccine was shipped for the first time at the SK Bioscience plant in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and the vaccination started in earnest. The plan is to form collective immunity by inoculating 70% of the population by September. Based on the vaccination plans released by the government and the analysis of experts, I have summarized when, where and what vaccines will be given.
When is the corona vaccine right?
Shipped’AZ’ at SK Bio factory on the 24th
Dedicated hospital medical staff, senior elders No. 1 influential
‘Pfizer’ 2 words and 3 seconds… To the frontline medical staff
Janssen Modena in May, Nova Baxdo in July
President Moon Jae-in is visiting and moving to a simulation training for the transportation of the Corona 19 vaccine held at the Korean Air cargo terminal at Incheon International Airport on the morning of the 3rd. Blue House Photo Reporters
The first inoculation in Korea is a medical staff or a nursing hospital
The first vaccine to be vaccinated in Korea is expected to be AstraZeneca. On the 24th, 750,000 vaccines are packaged at the distribution center in the amount required for each hospital and delivered to nursing hospitals and public health centers nationwide to begin vaccination. Elderly patients in nursing homes and nursing hospitals, as well as 750,000 medical staff and staff here, are the top targets for vaccination. At the end of February, the medical staff in the nursing hospital will inoculate themselves, or a visiting vaccination team consisting of one doctor and two nurses will visit the facility to inoculate all at once. Recently, mainly in Europe, an analysis that the AstraZeneca vaccine is less effective in the elderly over the age of 65 has been reported, but many experts believe that it is better to modify the vaccination plan by analyzing the effect later while the vaccination is proceeding. The number 1 inoculation in Korea has not been confirmed yet. It is highly likely to be selected among the medical staff in the hospital dedicated to infectious diseases or the elderly patients in nursing hospitals.
27-year-old university hospital emergency medicine major in March
The 58,500 Pfizer vaccines that come in late February to early March will be vaccinated by medical staff who directly treat corona19 patients. ▶ 11 hospitals dedicated to bases ▶ 73 hospitals dedicated to infectious diseases ▶ 50 hospitals with treatment beds for severe patients ▶ 49,000 medical staff belonging to 207 hospitals including 73 living treatment centers are inoculated. 9,900 doctors, 29,200 nurses, and 9,800 other medical personnel such as medical technicians, radiologists, and clinical pathologists. This does not apply to hospital administrators, cleaning personnel, and restaurant workers. The quarantine authorities plan to allow 134 hospitals out of 207 if they request their own vaccination. Instead, the medical staff who will be giving injections must go to 4 vaccination centers nationwide and receive training in advance. The four centers are National Medical Center, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Pusan University Yangsan Hospital, and Chosun University Hospital. Medical staff at medical institutions that are difficult to inoculate themselves, such as in small hospitals or life treatment centers, should go to the center to be met. From mid-March, 500,000 first responders to the corona field, including medical staff at high-risk medical institutions such as general hospitals, and epidemiological investigators, will receive the vaccine. They are also likely to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Vaccination timing by target group. Graphic = Kim Eun-kyo [email protected]
67-year-old self-employed person inoculated at a hospital near home in May
In May, vaccinations for elderly people over 65 years of age begin. This is the order of age. The domestic corona fatality rate is around 1.8%. However, by age, there is a big difference in 80s and over, 20%, 70s with 6.4%, 60s with 1.35%, and 50s with 0.3%. That is why most countries organize the vaccination order by age. Doctors and pharmacists working at local clinics and pharmacies will also get the vaccine from May. At this time, in addition to AstraZeneca, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Modena vaccine are gradually introduced, increasing the number of vaccines. Modena vaccines must be obtained at an inoculation center with a cryogenic freezer. The center will increase to 250 locations. AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines can be stored in regular refrigerators. It can be met at 10,000 consigned medical institutions nationwide. It is also possible to inoculate at a hospital near your home.
33 year old elementary school teacher in July
In July, the general public aged 18 to 64 will finally be able to meet. Chronic disease patients, essential personnel such as fire fighting and police, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school teachers and daycare center nursery teachers are given the vaccination first, followed by age. At this time, the Pfizer vaccine will be introduced in earnest and the number of vaccines will increase to four. NovaVax vaccine is also likely to be introduced around this time. 33.25 million people, or 70% of the people, will be vaccinated from July to September. When the vaccination time comes, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will inform the target person via text message. After making an online or telephone reservation, you can go to an inoculation center or hospital to inoculate. It is the time when various vaccines are given at the same time, but the type of vaccine cannot be selected. You can change the date if you are not feeling well on the day you scheduled the vaccination. However, refusal of vaccination for no reason may result in a delay to the end of September.
Comparison of domestically introduced COVID-19 vaccine. Graphic = Reporter Jaemin Shin [email protected]
“Even if you get a vaccine, you have to wear a mask… there is no end to the corona”
Experts stress that even if you get the vaccine, you should keep wearing a mask. Just remember that even if you get the flu (influenza) vaccine, you can get the flu, and you can pass the flu to others. The reason why you still need to get a vaccine is that after vaccination, even if you become infected, the chances of getting seriously worse or dying are significantly reduced.
Early vaccinators may have to re-vacculate this fall. “The flu vaccine is most effective after 3 months of vaccination,” said Jeong Ki-seok, a professor of respiratory medicine at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital. It is not easy to continue even after 6 months, so for those who vaccinated in February, there is a high possibility that the antibody will not be maintained in August to September.”
The public opinion is that it is impossible to completely end the corona. Dae-seop Song, a professor at Korea University College of Medicine, said, “Vaccines such as natural pox or measles that have near 100% defense are rare. Due to the nature of Corona 19, a respiratory virus, it should be said that the vaccine was made for the purpose of reducing disease symptoms rather than preventing infection. However, if vaccination lowers the mortality rate for the elderly and relieves the medical burden, it seems that the quarantine stage can be gradually lowered.
Reporter Esther [email protected]