Editorial comment The year 2021 is foreshadowing a major change in our daily lives who suffered from the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). In February, the Corona 19 vaccination will be started from those who are recommended for priority vaccination, such as medical personnel and the elderly in nursing homes. Vaccines are attracting attention as a’game changer’ that will change the corona 19 epidemic. As the government has declared, attention is focused on whether the’maskless Chuseok’ is possible.
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| On the 28th, U.S. Army hospital staff are receiving a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine at Osan Air Force Base, a U.S. military base in Korea. The USFK command is scheduled to vaccinate the bases of Osan, Gunsan and Humphreys (Pyeongtaek) from the 29th. Initial vaccination targets are essential personnel including medical staff and support personnel in the three bases. (Provided by the U.S. Air Force) 2020.12.28/News1 © News1 Reporter Kim Myung-seop |
A’game changer’ of vaccines and treatments appeared in more than a year after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). A powerful weapon was created in the means of quarantine, which was merely social distancing from the mask.
As the development and safety evaluation period, which normally takes 10 years, has been shortened to within 1 year, there are still anxiety factors about the occurrence of side effects, but Korea also purchased a total of 56 million vaccines first, and in the third quarter of this year, collective immunity. One step closer to formation.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the central defense countermeasure headquarters of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported that the total amount of Corona 19 vaccine secured in Korea was confirmed to be 10 million people secured through participation in KOVAX facilities of international organizations and 46 million people in pre-purchases signed with individual pharmaceutical companies.
The first vaccination is scheduled to begin in the first quarter. If the AstraZeneca vaccine is approved in Korea between January and February, vaccination can start from February to March. AstraZeneca will supply a total of 10 million people from the first quarter to the third quarter.
From the second quarter, vaccines from Modena (for 20 million people) and Janssen (for 6 million people) will be available. In addition, the supply of Pfizer vaccine (for 10 million people) will begin in the third quarter, and it is expected that all of the vaccinations for 36 million people who receive priority vaccination will be completed.
In addition, 10 million people will be supplied sequentially from the first quarter of 2021 through the COVAX facility, a vaccine joint purchase alliance. Although the vaccine supplied by COVAX is still undecided, it is estimated to be a two-dose method, and 300,000 people, which account for 3% of the total volume in the first quarter, are expected to arrive first.
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It also speeds up the preparation of customized storage and distribution management for each vaccine platform. Domestic Corona 19 vaccination enforcement agencies are preparing two types in consideration of the characteristics of each vaccine type. In particular, it plans to equip 250 units of cryogenic freezers within the first quarter for frozen distribution and storage management of Pfizer vaccines.
This freezer is placed separately in a designated vaccination center. Subjects receiving the Pfizer vaccine will receive two doses at the center. In addition, Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines can be stored and distributed in refrigerators, so they can be vaccinated at local medical institutions in a similar manner to conventional flu vaccinations.
Inoculation targets will be given priority to those who are vulnerable to infection, such as the elderly and chronically ill, and personnel essential for social maintenance such as the first response to Corona 19, police, fire officials, and soldiers. The quarantine authorities will announce their vaccination sequence and vaccination timing during this month.
A domestic treatment that will relieve the burden of treating corona19 confirmed patients will be launched in the first quarter. On December 29, last year, Celltrion applied to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a conditional approval review of the Corona 19 antibody treatment’Recyrona (ingredient name Regdanvimab)’.
Considering the 40-day expedited review deadline of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, approval for domestic use is expected at the end of this month or early February. Rekirona is first administered in the medical field for the purpose of controlling the occurrence of severe patients. If the incidence of severely ill patients decreases, the domestic critically ill hospital bed utilization rate is expected to be breathless.
“Corona 19 vaccination begins in 2021, and there are changes in the conditions for responding to Corona 19 such as securing domestic treatments,” said Eun-kyung Chung, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I will prepare without a hitch.”
He added, “Even if vaccinations and treatments are introduced, we believe that it will take a considerable amount of time for the whole world, including Korea, to overcome Corona 19. Until Corona 19 is overcome, it is still important to keep a distance from wearing a mask. “Do it.”