In Korea, the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccination began on the 26th. Vaccines are the most powerful means of protecting themselves against infectious diseases. However, none of the approved COVID-19 vaccines have the results of clinical studies in children, adolescents, and pregnant women. Their way to protect themselves through vaccines is still blocked. That doesn’t mean there is no way. A protective effect can be achieved if there are many people who have immunity in the group where people who do not get the vaccine live. It is a so-called immune umbrella. If a large number of people who can be vaccinated get the vaccine and become a shield against the spread of Corona 19, it can prevent the infection of children, adolescents, and pregnant women who cannot get the vaccine due to insufficient research results. That’s why vaccination is called altruistic behavior. Of course, personal hygiene rules such as wearing a mask and washing hands are important at this time as well. Vaccines are such an important tool, but some are interfering with vaccinations by spreading fake news that lacks evidence. We examined the schedule, effects, and side effects of the Corona 19 vaccine.
▷ When can the general person get the vaccine?
“The domestic COVID-19 vaccination will take place sequentially within this year. The 1.3 million people who were vaccinated in the first quarter were those with the highest risk of corona19 infection or the highest risk of death when infected. These include workers in nursing hospitals and facilities, patients under the age of 65 protected here, and medical staff at medical institutions. Vaccination for the elderly over the age of 65 is likely to begin in late March to early April. Vaccines are given sequentially from higher ages such as 80 years old or older, 75-79 years old, 70-74 years old, 65-69 years old. If you are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, you can expect vaccination in July, the third quarter. Together with them, vaccinations aged 50 to 64 are also carried out sequentially at this time. The last ranking is for adults aged 18-49. Their vaccinations are likely to be done by September this year.”
▷I need vaccination for overseas business trips, but can I get it first?
“People who have to leave Korea urgently for essential public service activities or important economic activities plan to introduce a system that first receives vaccines from the second quarter. However, even at this time, the country of departure must request a vaccination certificate and go through a review by the competent government department. Study abroad is not included. If it is determined that it is suitable as a result of the screening, the vaccine can be given after approval by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
▷I want to get a specific vaccine, but can’t I choose?
“There is no individual choice for the COVID-19 vaccine. The same is true in other countries. This is because giving individual choices can interfere with the entire national defense system. According to the Korean Tuberculosis and Respiratory Society, there are 10 vaccines used worldwide. There are 20 ongoing phase 3 clinical trials, the final stage of vaccine development. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is based on a 50% prevention rate as a condition of approval for a COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Modena, and NovaVax vaccines, which were decided to be introduced in Korea, were all confirmed to have exceeded these thresholds in clinical studies. If they refuse to get the vaccine they want, they are placed in the last place. Even at that time, you can’t choose the vaccine you want. When the vaccination sequence comes, you should get the vaccine.”
▷ The vaccine development period is short and there are many side effects.
“As of the morning of the 26th, 225 million doses of vaccination were done in 100 countries, but there is no evidence that the Corona 19 vaccine is dangerous. The vaccine is for healthy people. For this reason, it is considered the safest medicine. Common COVID-19 vaccine adverse reactions include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. These are all natural phenomena that occur when immunity comes from vaccines. It disappears 3 days after vaccination. Taking an acetaminophen-based pain reliever can also help. Serious allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis can occur, but are very rare. In Israel, where the vaccination rate is the highest, 0.24% of the first vaccination vaccination and 0.26% of the second vaccination complained of adverse reactions. All are Pfizer vaccinations. Most of them were the pain at the injection site or the feeling that I was feeling a little unwell. Those who complained of neurological sequelae were rare with 0.01% after the first vaccination and 0.007% for the second vaccination. Allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis were quite rare, with 0.006% of the complaints after the 1st vaccination and 0.003% of the 2nd vaccination.”
▷Are there any precautions before vaccination?
“To screen out people with allergies, prepare a precautionary sheet before the corona 19 vaccination. You have to write it carefully as it is. You should wait at the vaccination center for 15 to 30 minutes after getting the vaccine to check if there are any adverse reactions. When you get home, you should monitor your body for at least 3 hours, for at least 3 days. If you have a high fever of 39 degrees or higher or hives, you should go to the emergency room right away. It is also important to monitor your body before vaccination. If you have a fever of 37.5 degrees or more, cough, sore throat, etc., you should notify the inoculation agency and schedule a new one. There should be at least two weeks between the vaccines for other infectious diseases, such as the flu vaccine, and the COVID-19 vaccine. When getting the vaccine, it’s better to wear loose clothing than tight clothing. The AstraZeneca vaccine is given every 8 weeks and the Pfizer vaccine is given every 3 weeks. You’ll have to get the same vaccine twice, so you have to remember which one you got. People with a history of COVID-19 infection are also subject to vaccination. However, at least 90 days after recovery, you should get the vaccine.”
▷ Is it effective if you get the Corona 19 vaccine?
“In Israel, where 51.1% of the population was vaccinated from the Pfizer vaccination on December 20 of last year, the vaccine is effective. The number of confirmed cases in Israel decreased from 10,000 to 2,000 to 3,000 per day. Israel’s Ministry of Health announced that those who had been vaccinated two weeks later had a 95.8% decrease in the rate of corona19 infection. The vaccine not only prevents infection, but also prevents it from getting seriously worse when infected with Corona 19. Among those who received the vaccine twice in Israel, the incidence of severe cases was suppressed by 99.2%, inpatients in hospitals by 98.9%, and deaths by 98.9%. This means that even if you become infected with Corona 19 after getting the vaccine, your risk of dying is greatly reduced.”
▷ Does it take effect immediately after vaccination?
“Usually, it takes about two weeks to develop a protective antibody after getting a vaccine. Corona 19 vaccine is reported to increase in antibody levels 7 to 14 days after two vaccinations. It is not known how long the immunity thus formed lasts. Even if they get the vaccine, some are at risk of contracting COVID-19. There is a risk of exposure to an infected person before immunity is established or when the immunity effect has declined over time. Even if you have been vaccinated, you should follow personal hygiene practices such as wearing a mask and washing your hands.”