KCDC "Goal to Achieve COVID-19 Herd Immunity by November"

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Announces '2021 Major Work Plan'

Aim to Vaccinate 70% of Population by November to Achieve Herd Immunity
Operate Integrated Logistics Center for 'Cold Chain' Distribution
Vaccinations at Centers and Designated Medical Institutions

President Moon Jae-in visited the SK Bioscience factory in Andong, Gyeongbuk on the morning of the 20th to inspect the produced COVID-19 vaccines. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] A goal has been set to achieve herd immunity by completing COVID-19 vaccination for more than 70% of the entire population by November.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the '2021 Major Work Promotion Plan' containing this information on the 25th.

The KDCA identified COVID-19 as the top policy task and work direction for this year. It presented securing vaccines, safe vaccination, development of therapeutics, and advancement of region-based quarantine response systems as key tasks. Through this, it aims to make 2021 the 'first year to overcome COVID-19 and start restoring the daily lives of the people.'

To this end, a two-track strategy will be pursued: suppressing the spread of infection by strengthening quarantine measures such as expanding diagnostic testing and treatment capabilities, and forming herd immunity through nationwide vaccination.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun visited Ilsin Bio Base headquarters, a company producing ultra-low temperature freezers for vaccine storage, in Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 21st, and is moving while listening to an explanation from CEO Hong Seong-dae. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The KDCA set the target for herd immunity formation at '70% vaccination of the entire population.' Vaccinations will begin once initial vaccines arrive next month, with the plan to establish herd immunity by November. However, the specific vaccination schedule will be decided later depending on priority groups, vaccine supply, clinical results, and the domestic epidemic situation.

For vaccine distribution and supply, the AstraZeneca vaccine, which currently has the fastest approval speed, will be authorized first, and vaccines and related supplies will be supplied sequentially after the first supply. An integrated logistics center equipped with warehouses that meet storage temperature requirements will be operated according to the characteristics of each vaccine type, such as the ultra-low temperature 'cold chain' distribution required for mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna.

Vaccinations will be conducted at two types of institutions: vaccination centers and entrusted medical institutions. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be administered at separate vaccination centers equipped with ultra-low temperature freezers. The plan is to establish 250 such centers nationwide using local government facilities. Other vaccines like AstraZeneca will be administered at entrusted medical institutions that meet standards within the national vaccination program, with about 10,000 sites planned. Home visits by public health centers for nursing homes and similar facilities will also be conducted. Military personnel will be vaccinated through institutional vaccination. Approximately 6,000 vaccination personnel will be deployed and trained in cooperation with related organizations and groups.

A rapid response system will be established for adverse reactions reported after vaccination in countries where vaccination has already started. The KDCA and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will build a joint surveillance monitoring system and promote active monitoring of adverse reactions through medical institutions. In cases of severe adverse reactions, causality assessment through epidemiological and damage investigations and decisions on vaccine use will ensure safety. If causality is confirmed, compensation will be provided through the national compensation system.

Efforts to strengthen development capabilities for proprietary therapeutics and vaccines will continue. To enhance infectious disease research and development (R&D) control, the 'National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Technology Development Promotion Strategy (2022?2026)' will be established. This will support the development of rapid vaccine platforms such as mRNA and viral vectors and the development of candidate material discovery base technologies.

Additionally, government-led rapid clinical research for quick screening of therapeutics applicable during infectious disease crises will be operated and supported. The KDCA plans to promote clinical trials for COVID-19 therapeutics under the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, modeled after the UK's clinical trial program 'Recovery Trial.'

Variant virus infections from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil are being confirmed one after another in Korea. The photo shows the COVID-19 testing center set up at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the 10th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Measures to maximize quarantine response capabilities to suppress infection spread will also be pursued until prevention and treatment are fully established.

Quarantine response levels will be differentiated according to the risk level of each country, and the overseas occurrence trends of highly transmissible variant viruses will be continuously monitored. Quarantine measures will be strengthened, such as lowering the fever threshold to 37.3 degrees Celsius for arrivals from those countries.

To improve convenience for arrivals and quarantine efficiency, a transition to an ICT-based electronic quarantine system will be promoted. The number of smart quarantine inspection booths at airports will be increased from six units at one airport to nine units at two airports. For temporary living facilities for short-term foreign visitors, private expert consignment and management will be strengthened except for core quarantine tasks.

Domestically, diagnostic testing management and capabilities will be enhanced. The target for proactive diagnostic testing will be expanded from current nursing and psychiatric hospitals and nursing facilities to include elderly care facilities and facilities for severely disabled residents. Non-metropolitan areas will also conduct weekly testing at the same level as metropolitan areas.

Furthermore, domestic COVID-19 PCR testing capacity will be increased to 240,000 tests per day, and testing priorities will be applied to maximize the use of limited testing resources. Epidemiological investigations will continue to recruit epidemiologists and establish an ICT-based epidemiological investigation infrastructure.

Nationally designated inpatient treatment beds, used for severe patient care when confirmed cases occur, will be expanded to 83 beds and utilized as key resources for medical response. Five regional infectious disease specialized hospitals will be designated to serve as control towers for infectious disease response within their regions.

In addition to COVID-19, disease prevention management in daily life will be strengthened. To prevent and eradicate tuberculosis, the national mobile tuberculosis screening project for vulnerable groups will be expanded from the previously targeted vulnerable elderly and homeless to include disabled persons with mobility difficulties. Also, when pulmonary tuberculosis is suspected based on national health screening results, tuberculosis testing fees will be supported to encourage early detection and treatment.

Regarding viral hepatitis, national vaccination for hepatitis A will be expanded, and a pilot project for early detection of hepatitis C patients will be promoted. Alongside this, surveillance systems for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) such as influenza, COVID-19, parainfluenza, and Legionella will be expanded to operate year-round for 12 months, with additional surveillance targets added depending on infectious disease situations.

Moreover, through mid-term evaluations and long-term development strategies of the currently implemented 'Comprehensive Measures for Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections,' a medical infection prevention system capable of responding to emerging new infectious diseases will be established.

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