O Myung-don "Even with vaccines, I can't guarantee they are more effective than masks"

COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Available After Next Year, Effectiveness Not Guaranteed
"Lockdowns Are Not a Long-Term Solution... Even with Vaccines, Ending the Pandemic Will Be Difficult"

On the 25th, Oh Myung-don, chairman of the Central Clinical Committee, is speaking at a press conference for the 'COVID-19 Joint Response Situation Room and Central Clinical Committee for Emerging Infectious Diseases' held at the research building of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Although countries around the world are focusing on vaccine development to end the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), experts have expressed the opinion that the epidemic will not easily end even if the vaccine is actually administered. This is the reason why individuals must continue to follow hygiene rules such as wearing masks and washing hands both now, before a vaccine is available, and after one is developed.

Oh Myung-don, chairman of the Central Clinical Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases (Professor of Infectious Diseases at Seoul National University Hospital), said at a press conference on the 25th, "Even if the vaccine currently under development is released as soon as possible, it will be after next spring," adding, "There is no guarantee that a safe and effective vaccine will be available, and even if it is, it will be difficult to end the pandemic (global outbreak) with that alone."

This committee is a consultative body that oversees clinical information and treatment guidelines for COVID-19 patients in Korea, and Chairman Oh also participates as a member of the government-wide therapeutic and vaccine development committee. Based on the characteristics of the coronavirus and the results of primate experiments of COVID-19 vaccines currently under development, Oh made this assessment. He judged that among the vaccines currently under development, only about one vaccine reduces both upper and lower respiratory tract viruses. However, this is only based on monkey experiment results, and clinical trials on humans still need to be observed.

On the first day of mandatory indoor and outdoor mask-wearing in Seoul on the 24th, a mask was placed on a dinosaur sculpture installed in front of the Seodaemun Museum of Natural History in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Likely Similar to Influenza
Hard to Expect Better Preventive Effect Than Masks

Chairman Oh said, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set the approval criteria for COVID-19 vaccines at about 50% disease prevention effectiveness," adding, "We are hopeful as well, but it is difficult to expect a vaccine that completely prevents spread and reduces mortality." He further added, "It is hard to expect that the vaccine we hope for now will have better spread prevention effectiveness than the masks we are currently using."

A 50% vaccine effectiveness is similar to the current influenza vaccine level. Just as people can still get influenza despite vaccination, it is difficult to completely eliminate the virus with the vaccine alone. Chairman Oh said, "Even if a vaccine is developed, it will be no earlier than next spring," and "For now, we have no choice but to continue following personal quarantine rules such as social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands."

Due to the spread of COVID-19, quarantine authorities both inside and outside have considered raising social distancing to the highest level, but Chairman Oh diagnosed that such high-intensity quarantine measures are not a good long-term solution. He said, "The resurgence of COVID-19 has been fully anticipated," and "While lockdowns can suppress the outbreak and reduce the burden on the medical system, they are not a long-term solution."

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