Pfizer’s first vaccine vaccination before the Lunar New Year holidays…

Earlier next month, it was confirmed that the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) Pfizer vaccine is the first to enter Korea through’CoVax Facility’, a multinational vaccine supply alliance, and the first vaccination is likely to be done before the Lunar New Year.

An official from the quarantine authorities who requested anonymity said on the 21st that “out of the 10 million vaccines contracted with Kovacs Facility early next month, 50,000 Pfizer vaccines will arrive first.” On that day, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security also said at an online press briefing that “the first vaccination was scheduled at the end of February, but the schedule is advanced and the first vaccine will be available before the Lunar New Year holiday.

The previous day (20th) Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun appeared on MBC radio and said that he had received a call from Kobax facility early next month asking if he would receive an initial amount of 50,000 people first. Prime Minister Chung said, “The amount is not large,” and “It is 100,000 doses, for 50,000 people, and that is not confirmed, and we are discussing it.” When asked, “Can the first vaccination be started in the beginning and the middle of February,” he said, “we are fully preparing to do so,” and said that the first vaccination target is likely to be a medical staff.

President Moon Jae-in also said at a New Year press conference on the 18th, “There is a possibility that the amount of COVAX (facility) will be the first to come in.” Revealed. Korea has secured 10 million people through COVAX, but the specific timing of introduction or type of vaccine has not been confirmed so far. In this regard, an official from the quarantine authorities confirmed that “the 50,000 people who will arrive first are the Pfizer vaccine.” Initially, AstraZeneca vaccine was expected to be available for the first time at the end of next month, but other vaccines will be introduced earlier than this. In a briefing on the 20th, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said in a briefing on the 20th, “Covax plans to give us a final decision (contents) by the end of January. After the end of January, the quantity and timing of supply will be decided.” He said, “There is a possibility that it may come in early February, so when it is introduced, we are preparing all the relevant matters quickly.” .

Pfizer vaccine must be approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its safety and effectiveness in order to be introduced in Korea. Currently, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is conducting a preliminary review based on non-clinical and clinical data. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is planning to review the approval of special imports corresponding to the emergency use approval with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when the quantity is confirmed. This is to enable rapid vaccination without going through the formal authorization process. If you use special approval, you can get the vaccine quickly as soon as the vaccine comes in.

Pfizer vaccine needs to be distributed around -70 degrees Celsius, so a separate vaccination center is required. In this regard, the authorities are expected to select 250 vaccination centers by next week. It plans to deploy 100 cryogenic freezers required for the inoculation center by the end of January.

The amount received in this way is expected to be inoculated first by the medical staff at the hospital dedicated to infectious diseases. The government initially selected 566,000 elderly people aged 65 or older living in nursing homes or nursing homes as their top priority. However, due to the small volume, analysis showed that it is better to match the medical staff first than to match some of them. Accordingly, it is expected that the first vaccination in Korea will be the medical staff.

Reporter Esther and Hwang Soo-yeon [email protected]