5.5% of primary subjects completed vaccination…No suspicion of severe allergy
Disease Administration allows one to two additional vaccinations per bottle of vaccine… Expert “don’t overdo it”
Following the AstraZeneca new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine, the Pfizer vaccine has also begun in earnest. Hospitals and life treatment centers, who are at the forefront of responding to Corona 19, have begun vaccinations, and the number of people vaccinated against Corona 19 in Korea exceeded 20,000 in two days.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Corona 19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that as of 0 o’clock on the 28th, there were 2,322 domestic Corona 19 vaccinations. 22,000 AstraZeneca vaccines and 300 Pfizer vaccines completed the first dose. 111 out of AstraZeneca vaccinations and 1 out of Pfizer vaccinations had adverse reactions, but they were mild symptoms that were common after vaccination, such as headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. There have been no cases of suspected severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis.
Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of the Corona 19 vaccine by Johnson & Johnson (J&J Janssen), a US pharmaceutical company. The Janssen vaccine, the third U.S. approved for urgent use, showed an average of 66% preventive effect in phase 3 clinical data released on the 29th of last month. Unlike most vaccines that require two doses, only one dose is required and there is no need for ultra-low temperature delivery. Accordingly, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also initiated an item approval review for the Janssen vaccine.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) Corona 19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that as of 0 o’clock on the day, the cumulative number of Corona 19 vaccines was 2,322. AstraZeneca vaccinated 22,200 people, and Pfizer vaccination started the day before, 300 people. To date, 5.5% of the 36,331 people who were subject to the primary vaccination (excluding first responders) have completed vaccination. The inoculation rate is 0.039% compared to the total domestic population (52 million).
On the 26th, the first day of vaccination, 19,105 people finished the vaccination, and on the 27th, the second day, 1,217 people completed the vaccination. The number of vaccinations on the second day was significantly reduced compared to the first day of vaccination due to the effect of the weekend. This is because on the 27th, the number of workers in nursing hospitals and nursing facilities decreases somewhat, and in the case of nursing facilities, many places have set the vaccination date as a weekday where medical treatment is smooth in case of an adverse reaction.
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In particular, the Pfizer vaccine was the first domestic medical staff to deal with messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine, so on the 27th, the vaccine was first administered to 300 people. Until March 8th, when full-fledged vaccinations are made at 82 medical institutions, Pfizer vaccination can only be given at some vaccination centers. According to the National Medical Center’s Central Vaccination and Prevention Center, about 200 additional Pfizer vaccines were received that day. Currently, Pfizer vaccination is available only at the central vaccination and prevention center, and from March 3rd, vaccination will be conducted at vaccination centers in different regions such as Chungcheong and Honam.
Jeong Mi-kyung, 51, who is the 1st vaccinator of Pfizer’s vaccine, said, “I hope the day I take off my mask and go overseas travel soon.” Jung is a female environmentalist working in the corona19 confirmed ward at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Joanna (36), a nurse at the Central Medical Center, who has been in charge of corona 19 critical care for the past year, said, “After getting the vaccine, I am more reassuring. Until the end of Corona 19, I will care for critically ill patients.”
A total of 112 cases were reported as adverse reactions after vaccination. There were 111 AstraZeneca vaccinations and 1 Pfizer vaccination, all of which are mild cases such as headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting, which are common after vaccination. There have been no reports of serious adverse reactions such as suspected cases of anaphylaxis (severe systemic allergic reaction). The disease agency said, “The causality between side effects and vaccination has not been identified.”
The authorities are requesting to observe the condition at the vaccination agency for 15 to 30 minutes after vaccination and to check for symptoms for 3 hours on the same day and 3 days from the vaccination date after returning home. Minor adverse reactions will improve on their own within 1 to 2 days, but if symptoms such as a high fever of 39 degrees or higher or allergic reactions or symptoms of general adverse reactions interfere with daily life, a medical institution should be visited.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety initiated a review of the approval of the Corona 19 vaccine item by Johnson & Jones (J&J, Janssen), a US pharmaceutical company. The Janssen vaccine was developed so that it can be stored at room temperature and only needs to be inoculated once. Currently, the government has pre-purchased 6 million vaccines developed by Janssen and plans to introduce them sequentially from the second quarter.
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Meanwhile, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has allowed the number of inoculations per vial (glass container for injection) to be increased by 1-2 people at the site. This is because if a special syringe with little space between the piston and needle is used, the residual amount is generated enough to allow additional inoculation. However, some experts were concerned that “you should not increase the number of vaccinations unreasonably.”
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Corona 19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team issued guidelines to the nationwide vaccination sites that the number of people vaccinated per vial for Pfizer vaccine can be increased from 6 to 7 and AstraZeneca vaccine can be increased from 10 to 11 to 12. Distributed. In the official letter, the promotion team explained, “When using the minimum residual type sterilization (LDS) syringe, it is possible to inoculate additional inoculation with the remaining amount to reduce the amount of waste after inoculation for the recommended number of inoculations per vial.” However, it is not mandatory to inoculate the remaining dose.
The LDS syringe is a special syringe designed to minimize the discarded vaccine by reducing the space between the piston and the needle. Health authorities have supplied 670,000 LDS syringes to vaccination institutions so far, supplied or donated by domestic manufacturers.
Some experts have expressed concern about the move. This is because not only the fatigue of the medical staff increases, but also the risk of infection increases. Kim Woo-joo, a professor at Korea University Medical School, said, “The original medicine is slightly more than the recommended dose per vial, considering the skill level of the medical staff in charge of the medication.” There is also a possibility of diluting with more than the recommended amount of saline solution.” Eom Jung-sik, a professor at Gachon University’s medical school, was also concerned, saying, “While we have secured enough vaccines, we doubt whether it is necessary to do so.”
/ Reporter Woo Young-tak [email protected]
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