Domestic Vaccinations Also in Full Swing... Safety Concerns Remain

Pfizer Vaccine Administered to Medical Staff
AstraZeneca for Elderly
Half of Citizens "Undecided About Vaccination"
Need to Build Trust in Effectiveness

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Lee Chun-hee] With the introduction of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines this month, domestic vaccinations will begin in earnest. In mid-month, 58,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be introduced through the international vaccine-sharing project, 'COVAX Facility.' At least 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive through COVAX between February and March, with a total of 1.3 million to 2.19 million doses expected in the first half of the year.

As the domestic vaccine supply volume has been determined, preparations for vaccination have also begun. The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (led by Jung Eun-kyeong) and the National Medical Center announced on the 1st that they are about to start operating the Central Vaccination Center facilities. The head of the Central Vaccination Center will be Oh Myung-don, chairman of the Central Clinical Committee for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

In particular, the Central Vaccination Center is preparing to enable nationwide distribution immediately upon vaccine introduction, focusing its capabilities on maintaining the cold chain necessary for the distribution of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines and monitoring adverse reactions after vaccination. Joint drills between the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team and the National Medical Center will be conducted until the 3rd, and a system will be established to ensure smooth flow in waiting, vaccination, and observation areas.

According to the government's announcement, Pfizer vaccines will be administered first to medical personnel this month, while AstraZeneca vaccines will be given first to the elderly in nursing hospitals. However, variables remain. Germany, France, and other countries have argued that most participants in AstraZeneca vaccine clinical trials were aged 18 to 55, and there is insufficient clinical data on the elderly.

Although the European Union (EU) Commission has granted conditional marketing authorization, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is also carefully reviewing the safety and efficacy for the elderly. The MFDS will announce the results of the 'COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Efficacy Verification Advisory Committee' meeting this afternoon.

The MFDS will proceed with the review through a three-tier advisory process, including the verification advisory committee, the Central Pharmaceutical Review Committee, and the final inspection committee. If controversies continue to arise, the vaccination plan for February may inevitably face setbacks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

'Half undecided about vaccination' at 37.5%... Low vaccination intention among people in their 20s

Even if vaccination begins, many people are still uncertain about whether to get vaccinated, which is another variable.

According to a 'COVID-19 Perception Survey' conducted by Professor Yoo Myung-soon’s team at Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health, commissioned by 'Korea Research' from January 20 to 25, among 1,016 adults aged 18 and over, 53.2% of respondents said they were either undecided about vaccination or had low intention to get vaccinated.

Responses indicating 'low intention to vaccinate' accounted for 15.7%, while those who answered 'half undecided' reached 37.5%. Overall, 46.8% responded that they had a high intention to get vaccinated.

Notably, 23.5% of people in their 20s reported low vaccination intention, significantly higher than the 9.1% recorded among those aged 60 and over. Regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccine, 51.2% believed appropriate testing had been conducted. Conversely, 43% were not confident, and 5.8% were unsure.

Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department said, "In the prolonged third wave, it is crucial to continuously instill safety and trust in vaccination and maintain public participation in quarantine efforts."

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