[Q&A] Jeong Eun-gyeong: "The first vaccinated person is a nursing hospital worker... Regrettable to delay vaccination for those aged 65 and over"

Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, who is in charge of the COVID-19 vaccination response task force, announced the "COVID-19 Vaccination Plan for February to March" during a regular briefing on the response to the novel coronavirus held at the KDCA in Cheongju, Chungbuk, on the afternoon of the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] "Workers at nursing hospitals are expected to be the first recipients of the (domestic COVID-19) vaccine."

"The quarantine authorities deeply regret the delay in vaccinating residents aged 65 and older, inpatients, and workers" (Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team and Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)

The blueprint for the first COVID-19 vaccination in Korea, starting on the 26th, has been revealed. The target group includes inpatients and residents under 65 years old and workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, with the first vaccination recipients expected to be the workers at these facilities.

Director Jung stated on the 15th during the 'COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Briefing' that "We plan to begin the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine on the 26th for approximately 272,000 inpatients, residents, and workers under 65 years old at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities."

As a result, the controversial vaccination of the elderly aged 65 and over with the AstraZeneca vaccine has been temporarily postponed. The authorities will finalize the vaccination plan for the elderly after reviewing additional clinical data on vaccine efficacy and conducting a review by the Vaccination Expert Committee under the KDCA.

Jung Eun-kyung: "Cluster outbreaks in nursing hospitals and facilities are often caused by infections introduced by workers... We believe vaccination will have a blocking effect."

AstraZeneca·Oxford COVID-19 vaccine and syringe, company logo [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Below is a Q&A session with Director Jung Eun-kyung.

▲ Has the specific occupation or group for the first domestic COVID vaccine recipient been selected?

= Since AstraZeneca vaccinations at nursing hospitals and facilities will be gradually expanded starting on the 26th, it is expected that workers at nursing hospitals will be the first recipients. We are currently confirming vaccination plans with local governments, and once detailed schedules are set, the first recipients will be selected.

▲ The WHO advisory panel recommended AstraZeneca vaccination regardless of age. Why was it decided to vaccinate those under 65 first?

= AstraZeneca vaccine has already been authorized for those aged 18 and older, and its safety and immunogenicity in those 65 and older have been confirmed. However, the number of clinical trial participants over 65 was only 660, and the number of confirmed cases in both vaccinated and control groups was too small to statistically prove efficacy. Considering these points, it was decided to vaccinate those under 65 first and proceed with vaccination for those 65 and older after additional clinical data confirming efficacy is obtained, allowing for a more evidence-based approach.

▲ Does this decision mean that nursing facility residents and workers omitted from first-quarter vaccinations will be vaccinated in the second quarter? Will the originally planned vaccinations proceed sequentially, or is there a risk of overall delays by group?

= It is estimated that about 650,000 inpatients, residents, and workers at nursing hospitals and facilities are eligible for vaccination. Of these, approximately 270,000 under 65 are planned for the first phase, while about 370,000 aged 65 and older will have their vaccination schedule finalized after additional clinical results and expert committee review. We will collect and analyze information to enable vaccination as soon as possible. Currently, it is expected that vaccinations for those 65 and older will occur in the second quarter. In addition to the vaccine supply plan announced today, we are coordinating supplies of AstraZeneca vaccines through the COVAX Facility, finalizing contracts for Novavax vaccines, and confirming schedules for other vaccines. We will integrate these to finalize and implement the vaccination plan for those aged 65 and older.

▲ Among the 370,000 nursing hospital and facility residents, only about 40,000 are under 65. Do you believe this will not hinder the authorities' primary goal of reducing fatality rates through rapid vaccination?

= The quarantine authorities deeply regret the delay in vaccinating inpatients, residents, and workers aged 65 and older. Vaccinating the high-risk group with the highest mortality and severity first is appropriate. However, considering vaccine confidence and acceptance, and aiming to vaccinate with more solid evidence of efficacy, the vaccination order and schedule were adjusted.

Nonetheless, based on current cluster outbreaks in nursing hospitals and facilities, infections are more often introduced by workers living in the community than by long-term inpatients or residents. Therefore, vaccinating workers first is expected to block infection from entering group facilities. Additionally, until vaccination of inpatients and residents is completed, we will strengthen quarantine management in high-risk vulnerable facilities and implement preventive measures to protect them.

▲ If submission of AstraZeneca clinical data is delayed or additional clinical data does not confirm efficacy in the elderly, could leftover AstraZeneca doses be administered to lower-priority groups? If so, what will happen to the vaccination plan for the elderly?

= If the vaccination order is adjusted, we will consider revising priority groups accordingly. We are also reviewing other vaccines scheduled for supply in the second quarter as alternatives to ensure those aged 65 and older can be vaccinated promptly.

On the afternoon of the 9th, medical staff administered vaccines to training participants during a vaccine inoculation drill held at the Comprehensive Cancer Prevention Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

▲ Vaccine supply delays are reported in several countries. Given the domestic import timeline, do you expect to vaccinate 70% of the population by September? What are the biggest variables affecting this goal?

= There are two major variables. First is the timing of vaccine supply to Korea. Globally, vaccine supply is highly uncertain, and production issues exist for some vaccines, so securing vaccines in line with supply timing is the biggest variable. Second is the impact of various emerging variants on vaccine efficacy and the extent of variant spread in Korea. These are critical variables, so we will make all-out government efforts to expedite and finalize vaccine supply schedules.

▲ When will the Pfizer vaccine import schedule be finalized?

= Pfizer vaccines will be imported through two channels. The first batch of 117,000 doses allocated via the COVAX Facility is currently under individual contract negotiation between GAVI and Pfizer. We are working on intergovernmental contracts and distribution plans. We are adjusting schedules to import by the end of this month or early next month and will announce details once confirmed.

▲ Is there a possibility of importing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine?

= Regarding additional vaccine purchases, contracts for 20 million doses (10 million people) of Novavax vaccines are nearing completion. We are also continuously adjusting supply quantities and schedules for other contracted vaccines.

Sputnik V vaccine is being considered as one of several vaccine alternatives but is not yet at the stage of concrete contract negotiations. Given recent concerns about variants, we need to consider various vaccine platforms and types, so we are keeping options open.

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