On the morning of the 2nd, medical staff at the Yangcheon Health Center at the Shinmok Haengjiri Elderly Care Center in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, are injecting AstraZeneca’s Corona 19 vaccine into a syringe. News 1
Evidence is starting to accumulate that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective for the elderly against the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19), and that it is also more effective than the Pfizer vaccine. Accordingly, there are voices in South Korea that the issue of AstraZeneca vaccination should be reviewed in the elderly. The government also put forward a position that “if enough data is accumulated, it can be reviewed at any time.” Earlier, the government announced that it would decide whether to vaccinate the elderly over the age of 65 by the end of March.
AZ, it works for the elderly… “British was right”
According to foreign media on the 1st (local time), data showing the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine are being accumulated in the UK. According to the English Department of Public Health (PHE), which has collected AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccination data since January, 60-73% of AstraZeneca vaccines and 57-61% of Pfizer’s coronavirus after 4 weeks of primary vaccination in the elderly aged 70 and over. 19 Symptomatic Infection prevention effect was shown. Contrary to concerns, the AstraZeneca vaccine showed better efficacy for the elderly, and even better than the Pfizer vaccine.
In addition, PHE explained that even those vaccinated over the age of 80 had an effect of preventing 80% of hospitalization after 3 to 4 weeks after receiving the two vaccines once. This means that both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have reduced the progression of Corona 19 to severe disease in the elderly. “There is growing evidence that both vaccines work to reduce infection,” said Mary Ramsey, head of PHE vaccination.
Germany and France changed their position to “allow vaccination for the elderly”
Earlier, at the end of last month, the University of Edinburgh in the UK and the Scotland Department of Public Health analyzed data of 1.14 million people vaccinated with AstraZeneca and Pfizer, and found that the risk of hospitalization was reduced by 81%, even for those aged 80 and older. Both vaccines were effective in elderly people. As these data accumulate, the UK, which has been vaccinating the AstraZeneca vaccine at all ages over the age of 18, is welcoming, saying, “The British decision was correct.”
As a result, the atmosphere of other countries that have refused to accept the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation that “it is okay to be beaten by people over 18 years of age,” and have blocked vaccinations for the elderly, is also changing. Germany is preparing a new recommendation that includes the AstraZeneca vaccine for older people. France, which attached the condition’under 65′ to the AstraZeneca vaccine, expanded the scope of vaccination to the age of 74. Canada has also approved AstraZeneca vaccination for all adults.
“The vaccine is insufficient, but Korea should be vaccinated quickly.
For this reason, voices are gaining momentum in Korea that it is time to get the AstraZeneca vaccine against the elderly. Due to controversy about the efficacy of the elderly, the government withheld vaccinations over the age of 65, and as a result, more than 376,000 people aged 65 or older in nursing hospitals and facilities were excluded from vaccination in the first quarter. The primary goal of vaccination is to prevent death, excluding the most vulnerable.
Professor Chun Byung-cheol of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University Medical School, said, “As new evidence has emerged, the authorities need to re-evaluate vaccinations for the elderly. In addition to the thesis, it is necessary to receive and analyze the original data.” Eun-mi Chun, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “There is no reason to postpone vaccination for the elderly in a situation where the vaccine is insufficient.
The government is still cautious. Jeong Gyeong-sil, head of the vaccination management team of the vaccination response promotion team, said, “We will review various data such as vaccination results for senior citizens in each country and US clinical trials, and make decisions through the vaccination committee after expert analysis.”
Lim So-hyung reporter [email protected]
News directly edited by the Hankook Ilbo can also be viewed on Naver.
