Corona vaccination, effectiveness and safety must be guaranteed

Corona vaccination, effectiveness and safety must be guaranteed

by
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety decided on the 5th that the AstraZeneca Corona 19 vaccine should be “carefully reviewed” for the elderly over 65 years of age. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a Corona 19 vaccine that the government plans to administer the first dose to 750,000 people this month. Among the primary targets, a large number of elderly patients with underlying diseases, such as those in hospitals for nursing care, were included. Controversy about the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine against the elderly is expected to grow. The decision came at the second advisory meeting of the Central Pharmacist Review Committee consisting of 25 public-private experts regarding AstraZeneca’s vaccine approval for Corona 19. He said that the AstraZeneca vaccine should be discussed again for those over 65, “there is insufficient data on the effectiveness of the vaccination.” This is contrary to the conclusion that “the opinion of the majority of experts that vaccinations over the age of 65 are possible” at the first consultation meeting held on the 1st. Confusion is bound to follow.

In fact, the controversy over AstraZeneca vaccine is not the first time in Korea. The European Commission (EU) has authorized the AstraZeneca vaccine to be given to all age groups over the age of 18. However, some countries, such as Germany and France, have successively concluded that vaccination is restricted or not vaccination is allowed for the elderly. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved in the UK, but the approval itself has been withheld in Switzerland.

It is planned that 60,000 Pfizer vaccines with a 95% prevention rate will come in Korea. AstraZeneca vaccine, which is estimated to have a prevention rate of 65%, is expected to be delivered by 2.2 million people, which is about 40 times more than this. First, the AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper, with only a fifth of the Pfizer vaccine, and it is relatively easy to purchase compared to other vaccines. Compared to Pfizer’s vaccine, which requires storage at -70 degrees Celsius, AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored in the refrigerator.

The Yaksim Committee said that’the disease management agency should discuss whether or not to inoculate the AstraZeneca vaccine to the elderly. The elderly people’s attention is focused on the decision of the KCDC. In particular, Korea does not have a choice for the people to choose a vaccine. The government should not rush vaccination based on political judgment, but rather require vaccination that guarantees efficacy and stability.

Source