Pfizer Vaccine Likely to Be Approved Today...Focus on Vaccination of High School Students

From the 9th, In-Person Visits at Long-Term Care Hospitals Partially Allowed

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The final approval decision for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, 'Comirnaty,' in South Korea will be made on the 5th. If approved by the final inspection committee of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the morning of that day, it will become the second officially approved COVID-19 vaccine in the country, following AstraZeneca, which was approved on the 10th of last month.

The MFDS will hold the final inspection committee meeting in Osong, Chungbuk, on the morning of the 5th to decide on the final approval of the Pfizer vaccine and will announce the results at 2 p.m. The final inspection committee is the last stage of the triple verification system for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments operated by the MFDS. Since both the advisory committee and the central pharmaceutical review committee have already recommended approval for this vaccine, it is expected to pass this final hurdle smoothly.

The main point of interest in this approval is whether the vaccine will be administered to adolescents aged 16 to 17. However, even if the vaccine receives approval for use in those aged 16 and older, including adolescents under 18 in the COVID-19 vaccination target group requires a decision by the Vaccination Expert Committee of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

As of midnight on the 5th, 67,153 additional people received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total to 225,853. Among them, 221,944 received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 3,909 received the Pfizer vaccine. As the number of vaccinated individuals increased, 860 additional suspected adverse reaction reports were filed, totaling 1,578 cases. Of these, 1,558 were mild cases such as headaches, fever, and nausea, while 13 were suspected anaphylaxis cases. Notably, four additional deaths following vaccination were reported the previous day. Since vaccinations began on the 26th of last month, there have been a total of six deaths, all among AstraZeneca vaccine recipients.

The government has confirmed the import of 1.05 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through COVAX by May. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated, "The supply schedule for AZ vaccines to be introduced in the first half of the year through the COVAX facility has been finalized," adding, "Approximately 350,000 doses will be delivered this month, and 700,000 doses in April and May, totaling 1.05 million doses."

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that starting from the 9th, visitation criteria for nursing hospitals and facilities will be relaxed to allow visits during end-of-life periods or for patients and residents who are unconscious or in similarly severe conditions.

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