Worrying Local Transmission... COVID-19 Treatments and Vaccines Remain 'In the Dark'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has ultimately escalated into the feared community transmission, but the problem remains that there is still no officially approved treatment, let alone a vaccine. Even if treatments or vaccines are developed amid the ongoing pandemic threats, it will inevitably take a considerable amount of time for clinical trials and other processes.

According to health authorities on the 21st, although a month has passed since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Korea, no treatment or vaccine has yet been developed. Authorities are currently securing specimens and searching for candidate therapeutic substances. Korean medical staff are also encouraging patients to boost their immunity for prevention, while antiviral drugs are used only for severe or elderly infected patients.

The Central Clinical Task Force (TF) of the National Medical Center has released treatment guidelines recommending "primarily the use of the AIDS treatment drug 'Kaletra' and the malaria drug 'Hydroxychloroquine'." Kaletra was used in the treatment process of the third confirmed patient who was discharged from Myongji Hospital on the 12th.

As the COVID-19 situation enters a new phase, some have mentioned plasma therapy, which showed some effectiveness during past infectious disease pandemics, as a temporary treatment method. This involves separating plasma from the blood of recovered patients and transfusing it to infected individuals. However, concerns about complications and side effects cannot be avoided.

Nonetheless, it is positive that international cooperation is relatively well established, with countries openly sharing medical data. President Moon Jae-in spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping yesterday and agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries on clinical treatment experiences for COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 20th (local time) that "interim results of clinical research on COVID-19 virus treatments will be available within three weeks."

In the United States, vaccine development has begun, and the first clinical trials are expected to start as early as June. It is anticipated that by the end of the year, vaccination could be possible like the flu shot. The first 3D atomic map of the virus's key protein has also been created. Korean health authorities plan to minimize the time required for clinical trials through an emergency response research project.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.