470 COVID-19 Deaths, Highest Ever... Severe Shortage of Treatments

44,000 Paxlovid Units Scheduled for Introduction on the 25th
Less Than 3 Weeks of Stock Despite Additional Imports
Effectiveness of Lagevrio Also Uncertain

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] As the Omicron variant spreads and the number of deaths reaches an all-time high, concerns are growing over the shortage of COVID-19 treatments that can prevent severe illness and death among high-risk groups such as the elderly. Although the government has approved the emergency use of the oral antiviral drug Lagevrio (active ingredient molnupiravir) and is accelerating the additional import of Paxlovid, criticism is emerging that the supply will not be sufficient.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 24th, the number of deaths as of midnight reached 470, marking a record high. This is the second time since the 17th (429 deaths) that the daily death toll has exceeded 400. The cumulative number of deaths stands at 13,902, with a fatality rate of 0.13%. The number of critically ill patients is 1,081, maintaining the 1,000 range for the 17th consecutive day since the 8th.

The number of new confirmed cases was 395,598, nearly 100,000 fewer than the previous day (490,881). Compared to a week ago on the 17th (621,205), the number has decreased by more than 200,000. The cumulative number of confirmed cases reached 10,822,836. The government believes that the Omicron wave has peaked and that the increase in cases is stabilizing. However, it maintains that it will need to observe the trend for the next one to two weeks to determine if a downward trend will follow.

As deaths have surged, demand for COVID-19 treatments that can prevent severe illness among high-risk groups such as elderly confirmed cases has increased, but the supply on the ground is significantly insufficient. Although the government is working to secure more supplies, even that is not enough.

According to the CDCH, about 44,000 doses of Pfizer’s oral antiviral Paxlovid will arrive in the country on the morning of the 25th. Adding this to the remaining 61,000 doses of Paxlovid in the country will increase the stockpile to 105,000 doses. However, this is only enough for about three weeks. Assuming an average daily usage of 5,600 doses as in the third week of this month, the supply will last for about 18 to 19 days.

Previously, the government signed a pre-purchase contract for a total of 1,004,000 doses, combining 762,000 doses of Paxlovid and 242,000 doses of another oral antiviral, Lagevrio, from Merck & Company (MSD). Including the doses arriving on the 25th, a total of 207,000 doses of Paxlovid have been imported into the country. However, the initial pre-purchase quantity was smaller than that of other countries, and considering the competition among countries to secure supplies, the timing of the remaining imports remains uncertain.

Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "To minimize critically ill patients and deaths, timely prescription of medication is important," adding, "Other countries have purchased at least 2 to 3 million doses of Paxlovid, and the United States has purchased 10 million doses, but Korea has always been behind in securing supplies in advance."

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the emergency use of the oral antiviral Lagevrio the day before. It is the second oral antiviral introduced domestically. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to import 20,000 doses of Lagevrio in advance and start using it at infectious disease-dedicated hospitals and other treatment sites from the 26th. Earlier, Jeon Hae-cheol, the second head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, announced at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters meeting on the 21st that 100,000 doses of Lagevrio would be imported.

However, concerns have been raised that the effect of Lagevrio may not be significant even after its introduction. In the final clinical trial results, Lagevrio showed a 30% prevention effect against hospitalization and death, less than half of Paxlovid’s 88% effectiveness. Additionally, due to concerns about side effects, Lagevrio cannot be administered to pregnant women or children and adolescents under 18 years old. Professor Choi Won-seok of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Ansan Hospital said, "It may be difficult to say the preventive effect is at a very high level," but added, "For high-risk groups who cannot take existing treatments due to underlying diseases or concurrent medications, having an option like this is significant."

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