Corona 19 Pfizer Vaccine AFP = Yonhap News
The government announced that it has secured a quantity that exceeds the number of available populations related to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine, and will start vaccinations for medical staff and the elderly in February-March next year.
“As announced on the 24th, the government decided to purchase a total of 46 million vaccines (a total of 86 million doses), of which 36 million people (a total of 66 million doses) completed the purchase contract, Contracts are under way for 10 million people (total 20 million doses). “The government has been promoting vaccine purchase by preparing a portfolio of vaccine types and introduction times, and pre-purchased vaccines are in the first quarter of next year (February to March). ), they will enter Korea sequentially.”
“The current amount of vaccines for 46 million people that the government has purchased or is planning to purchase is equivalent to 88.8% of the total population of Korea, 5183 million people, and 104.3% of the 44.1 million people over the age of 18 who can be vaccinated.” Considering the academic opinion that 60-70% of the total population needs antibody formation for population immunity, this is a sufficient amount for the formation of domestic population immunity.”
The currently developed vaccines exclude these populations in view of the lack of clinical trial results for children under 18 years of age and pregnant women.
General Manager Jung said, “As the vaccine purchase and introduction into Korea are proceeding smoothly, the domestic Corona 19 epidemic continues, and in consideration of the possibility of shortage of supply due to increasing demand in each country, we will accelerate the domestic supply period and secure additional quantities. We are constantly discussing with individual pharmaceutical companies for this.”
He said, “The government is preparing a plan to complete vaccinations for those who are recommended for priority vaccination before the influenza epidemic period so that vaccinations can be immediately available from February to March when domestic vaccines are supplied.” The first goal of vaccination is to maintain the health care system and essential functions of the country, the second is to reduce morbidity and mortality, and the third is to block the spread of the community.” He added, “The government will start vaccination from the elderly who live in group facilities such as nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, as well as workers in high-risk medical institutions who need to maintain the function of the health care system among those who are recommended for preferential vaccination, and then expand vaccinations sequentially.”
At the FedEx cargo terminal at Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 25th, officials are transferring the US Department of Defense’s Corona 19 vaccine for US forces in Korea to a vehicle. The vaccine delivered this time is moved to’Brian Allgood’ hospital, a medical facility at Camp Humphreys, a US military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, as a modder or product, and then inoculated first with medical staff and support personnel. yunhap news
The government’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy aims to ① maintain the health care system and essential functions of the country, ② reduce morbidity and death, and ③ block the spread of local communities. Among those who are recommended for priority vaccination, the vaccination will be started from workers in high-risk medical institutions to maintain the function of the health care system, and the elderly living in group facilities such as nursing hospitals and facilities, and plans to expand sequentially. The priorities of vaccination targets will be detailed annual schedules for each target subject through deliberation by the Vaccination Review Committee, taking into account the timing of supply, effectiveness, and vaccination and distribution methods for each vaccine. Medical institution workers, group facility residents and workers, 65 years of age or older, adults with chronic illness (19-64 years of age, moderate or higher risk), pediatric and adolescent education and childcare facilities workers and staff, Corona 19 first responders, police and fire officials The back is expected to be the first candidate for vaccination.
For the vaccination agency, two methods are prepared in consideration of the characteristics of the vaccine type. Some vaccines that require frozen distribution (Pfizer, -75℃±15℃) have a separate vaccination center (approximately 100~250 units) in which freezers are placed, and refrigerated storage and distribution (2℃~8℃) are possible. Vaccination is administered by designating an institution that meets the designated criteria among consignment medical institutions with existing vaccination experience.
In this regard, Jung explained, “In consultation with related ministries such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, we plan to equip 250 units of cryogenic freezers within the first quarter for freezing distribution and storage management of Pfizer vaccines, and the government purchase process is currently underway.”
The KCDC-Ministry of Food and Drug Safety joint monitoring system will be established for adverse reactions that may occur after vaccination, and a national compensation system will be applied for damages with confirmed causality.
“The government is doing its utmost to introduce vaccines and prepare for safe vaccination, and the detailed vaccination plan will be announced in January of next year.”
Reporter Esther [email protected]