[Q&A] Omicron Variant Peaks at 100,000 Cases... "Vaccination and Masks Are Essential Basic Principles"

4th Dose Review Focused on Immunocompromised
Novavax Supply Planned for February
Children, Adolescents, Pregnant Women: Vaccine Benefits > Side Effects

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Ki Ha-young and Kim Young-won] The quarantine authorities have organized a session to resolve various controversies surrounding the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. The government urged active participation in the third vaccination dose, wearing health masks in 3Cs (closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings), and reducing face-to-face contact in relation to the Omicron response.

On the 27th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters held a special briefing titled "Expert Invitation Special Briefing on Omicron Characteristics and Response Measures," conducting a Q&A session about the Omicron variant. Attendees included Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency; Professor Kim Min-kyung of the Infectious Diseases Department at the National Medical Center; Director Lim Seung-kwan of Anseong Hospital, Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center; and Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University College of Medicine. The following is a Q&A.

- It is said that the Omicron variant results in mild symptoms, so why is it considered threatening?

▲(Professor Kim Min-kyung, Infectious Diseases Department, National Medical Center) Certainly, the severity is lower compared to the previous Delta variant virus. However, its transmissibility is more than twice that of Delta. If the absolute number of cases increases, the number of severe and hospitalized patients will also rise, putting a burden on the healthcare system. Its transmissibility is somewhat higher than seasonal flu, and its severity is also slightly higher.

People who have been infected with other COVID-19 variants or viruses can be reinfected with Omicron. Recent data from the UK shows that the reinfection rate during the Omicron wave was 16 times higher than during the Delta wave. The high reinfection rate is because Omicron has many mutations compared to previous viruses and variants, so the immune cells formed from prior infections do not recognize it properly and treat it as a new virus, failing to mount an appropriate response. This is called immune evasion.

- If the Omicron variant mainly infects the upper respiratory tract, is it especially dangerous for infants and young children?

▲(Professor Kim Min-kyung, Infectious Diseases Department, National Medical Center) It is true that Omicron mainly targets the upper respiratory tract. However, this does not mean it is particularly more dangerous for infants and young children. Foreign data shows that hospitalization rates are about one-third compared to the Delta variant. However, because of its high transmissibility, the number of infected patients, including children, increases, and since infants and young children are not eligible for vaccination, this can contribute more to the surge in cases.

- What is the forecast for the scale of new confirmed cases going forward?

▲(Professor Jung Jae-hoon, Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) Gathering common opinions overall, there will be a period of increase for about 5 to 8 weeks, during which the growth rate will remain very high. The peak size varies greatly depending on the model, but most expect it to exceed 100,000 cases. However, since the severity rate of Omicron has decreased, third-dose vaccinations are underway, and oral antiviral treatments are being supplied, the number of critically ill patients will not increase proportionally with the rise in confirmed cases.

- Rapid antigen tests are said to have much lower accuracy; is there a risk that false negatives will cause a sudden surge in confirmed cases?

▲(Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) The biggest change with the testing system transition is the supplementary use of rapid antigen tests. When confirmed cases surge, testing capacity is limited, so to efficiently allocate limited resources, PCR testing will be focused on high-risk groups, especially those aged 60 and above and other high-risk populations. This restructuring is planned to be implemented nationwide from February 3. Regarding rapid antigen tests, false positives and false negatives are issues. False positives are filtered out because any positive rapid antigen test is confirmed by PCR testing. For false negatives, even if the rapid antigen test is negative, strict mask-wearing and adherence to quarantine rules are advised, and if suspicious symptoms persist, repeat testing and medical consultation, including expert rapid antigen tests, are recommended to reduce false negatives.

- With Omicron spreading, do both KF94 masks and dental masks provide preventive effects against Omicron?

▲(Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) The mask guidelines were strengthened in the recent behavioral rules update. The main change is the recommendation against cloth or fabric masks. Secondly, for those who must spend extended time in 3Cs facilities, it is recommended to wear health masks rated KF80 or higher. However, in daily life, not wearing these health masks does not result in fines.

- Are oral antiviral treatments showing effectiveness?

▲(Lim Seung-kwan, Director, Anseong Hospital, Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center) As of midnight on the 27th, about 408 prescriptions have been issued according to government statistics. It is very difficult to comment on effectiveness at this point because there is no control group, so scientifically it cannot be stated. While we expect a reduction in hospitalizations and prescribe accordingly, there are still insufficient data. This research was mainly conducted during the Delta variant spread in the latter half of last year, but now Omicron is spreading. Also, the study subjects were unvaccinated individuals, so it is necessary to examine whether similar effects apply to vaccinated people.

- Is there a plan for a fourth vaccination dose in South Korea?

▲(Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) So far, it has been reviewed that immunocompromised individuals do not develop sufficient immunity even after three doses. Therefore, experts and committees are currently reviewing the fourth dose to boost immunity in immunocompromised people, and vaccination is being considered for this group. For other age groups, monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness and safety are ongoing.

- The Novavax vaccine has been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; when will the vaccination plan be announced?

▲(Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) The Novavax vaccine was approved on January 10, and SK Bioscience is currently producing it. Once production is complete, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will conduct quality verification before distribution. The initial supply schedule is still being finalized during this process, but the vaccination plan is being prepared to supply it in February.

Once the initial supply arrives, reservations will be accepted for unvaccinated individuals, and vaccinations will be administered. Priority will be given to high-risk groups such as patients in nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, and medical institutions who have not been vaccinated. General public vaccination guidance will also be provided. The Novavax vaccine produced by SK Bioscience is a single-dose vaccine, allowing for home visits and vaccination of homebound patients, facilitating basic vaccination for those who have not been vaccinated so far. Cross-vaccination is currently under expert review and committee deliberation, and guidance will be provided promptly once decided.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

- Omicron is generally mild, but for children and adolescents, do the benefits of vaccination still significantly outweigh the risks of side effects?

▲(Professor Jung Jae-hoon, Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) The frequency of complications from COVID-19 infection is observed to be much higher than adverse reactions from vaccination in most diseases. Therefore, given the clear ongoing large-scale Omicron outbreak over several months, vaccination is the most beneficial choice for individual health.

- There are claims that COVID-19 vaccination increases miscarriage or birth defect rates; can you confirm if this is true?

▲(Professor Jung Jae-hoon, Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University College of Medicine) Based on data and recommendations from foreign and domestic professional societies, there is currently no evidence of differences in miscarriage or stillbirth rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Additionally, COVID-19 infection increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, especially in pregnant women whose immunity may be severely compromised due to pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women are at higher risk from COVID-19. There is no evidence that vaccination affects the fetus, and the benefits of vaccination are clear. Hence, obstetrics societies in South Korea, the United States, and Europe recommend vaccination for pregnant women.

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