A nurse is injecting AstraZeneca vaccine into a syringe. News 1
The government said at an advisory meeting of experts on vaccines for novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), it was concluded that AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination was possible for people over 65 years of age. Accordingly, the corona19 vaccination for the elderly over 65, which has been withheld so far, is expected to begin at the end of March.
In a briefing on the 8th, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) chief said, “Last week, we held an advisory meeting for COVID-19 vaccine experts, and at that time (decision to withhold vaccination over 65 years old), The lack of evidence on the efficacy that was raised (the part that was done) was given an opinion that the vaccination could be sufficiently administered with British data,” he said. “We will make a decision by the Vaccination Specialist Committee reflecting those opinions.”
Commissioner Chung said, “As evidence data on the effectiveness of the AZ vaccine for the elderly, evaluation data on the effectiveness after actual vaccination were recently published in Scotland, UK. I said I would. Since such evidence has been further presented, we will hold a vaccination specialist committee around this week to deliberate on the contents.”
The government excluded 65 years of age or older from the top priority vaccination targets in the first quarter of the first quarter of the controversy over the effects of the AZ vaccine in Europe last month. At the end of this month, after seeing the clinical results coming out in the United States, it was planned to be reviewed.
However, in the UK, where vaccination was first started, an analysis showed that the AZ vaccine has effects such as severe prevention in the elderly. In addition, France and Germany, which had restricted vaccination for the elderly, overturned the existing position. Then, the government also changed its position toward vaccinating the elderly with the AZ vaccine.
Jeong Jae-hoon, a professor of preventive medicine at Gachon University, who attended the briefing said, “The controversy over the AZ vaccine was not a controversy over safety, but a controversy over the lack of evidence of its effectiveness for those over 65 years old. Such controversy has ended with massive data of millions of people in the UK. Foreign governments are also actively considering the use of people over the age of 65.”
Vaccination status. Graphic = Younghee Kim [email protected]
Commissioner Chung said, “The number of residents (nursing hospitals and nursing homes) whose vaccinations were withheld because they were 65 years of age or older last time is about 370,000. When the AZ vaccination is decided, the amount of COVAX is expected to come in March, and the amount for the second vaccination is currently in stock, so we plan to establish an inoculation plan as soon as possible in consideration of that point.” .
The government plans to start vaccination for the elderly in nursing hospitals with the AZ vaccine at the end of this month, and general public vaccinations over the age of 65 from next month. It is very likely that they will be fit in order of age. According to the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention, 350,000 AZ vaccines will be distributed this month, and 700,000 will be distributed from April to May. In addition, the Pfizer vaccine will be delivered sequentially for 500,000 people in March and 3 million people in April and June.
Reporter Esther [email protected]
