“Facial paralysis” → “Elderly people, Pfizer first”… Anxious Wen’s Vaccine

President Moon Jae-in has a meeting with SK Chairman Choi Tae-won and SK Bioscience CEO Ahn Jae-yong after visiting the SK Bioscience plant in Andong-si, Gyeongbuk, on the 20th of last month. [청와대사진기자단]

Vaccination of the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine’Korea No. 1’is imminent. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on the 15th that “from the 26th, the AstraZeneca vaccination will begin for hospitalized, residents and workers under the age of 65 in elderly group facilities such as nursing hospitals and nursing facilities.” The coronavirus crisis in Korea, which has crushed the lives of the entire people for over a year, has also brought an opportunity for a reversal. “Even if vaccination begins, the war against Corona has no choice but to go into a long war” (President Moon Jae-in) is the main argument, but Korea, whose departure was slow compared to other advanced countries, is now taking its first steps.

Meanwhile, the comments made by party, government, and government officials such as the Democratic Party, the government, and the Blue House have been drawing attention. In the opposition, criticism has been raised that “the public was not given accurate information, but rather caused confusion by saying his wishes.”

President Moon Jae-in said, “I don’t think speed is the most important thing,” at a conference on the development of corona vaccines and treatments on October 15 last year. It is important.”

On December 21, last year, two months later, Kim Tae-nyeon, head of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council’s meeting, “It is the government’s principle to verify safety and get vaccinated as much as possible.” It is becoming.”

As criticism poured out about the delay in vaccination from the opposition and the media, he made a public statement highlighting the side effects of vaccination. Two days later, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Welfare Son Young-rae even explained, “It is a very fortunate part that we should avoid the situation where the vaccine was hit for the first time in the world, and that we can observe the problem occurring in the country that was hit first for a month or two.”

However, the position of the party government reversed a few days later. At a high-ranking party, government, and office meeting held at the National Assembly on December 27 last year, then President Roh Young-min, then head of the presidential secretary, said, “We have secured a sufficient amount of vaccines.” It is a shift from a position of concern about side effects to a position that emphasizes the speed of vaccination.

However, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens aged 65 years or older were excluded from vaccination starting on February 26 as a result. This is because concerns were raised that “the statistical significance of AstraZeneca vaccine efficacy is insufficient in the age group over 65”.

Whether the AstraZeneca vaccine was introduced first or the Pfizer vaccine first was also a concern of the public. In such a situation, comments in the passport made expectations for the Pfizer vaccine.

President Moon said at a New Year’s press conference on the 18th of last month, “The quarantine authorities have already revealed that the first vaccination will be in late February or early March. At this point, the quantity of COVAX (facility) is likely to be the first. There is” he said. He said, “If that happens, it is reported that there is a possibility that the vaccine will be delivered and the vaccination period (both) may be accelerated.” Experts interpreted it as “a remark that implied that the Pfizer vaccine could be introduced first from the COVAX facility, an international vaccine supplier.”

Two days later, Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun appeared on a radio program and said, “I received a call (from Kobax) asking if I would receive it in early February. And on the 31st of last month, 11 days later, at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, “Yesterday (30th) there was an official notification about the vaccine to be supplied to Korea through Cobax Facility.” Boone is coming to Korea.”

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun is speaking at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting in response to CORO 19 on the 3rd. [뉴스1]

However, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Pfizer vaccine will be introduced in Korea after the end of February after the AstraZeneca vaccine, no matter how fast. President Moon and Prime Minister Chung’s comments that Pfizer’s vaccine could be started before the AstraZeneca vaccine turned out to be different as a result.

“The introduction of the Pfizer vaccine, which was coming in early and mid-February, has been delayed to early March,” said Kim Ye-ryeong, a spokesman for the power of the people. Then he pointed out, “Because of this situation, the people’s anxiety, especially the 65-year-olds, is increasing day by day.” “People want to hear a tighter, more convincing and reliable vaccination plan,” he said. “The government will already realize that trust in vaccines is broken.”

Reporter Heo Jin [email protected]