Adverse Events of Updated Vaccines Lower Than Monovalent Vaccines... 0.3 Cases per 1,000

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] The adverse events associated with the updated vaccines (bivalent vaccines) used for additional winter vaccinations were found to be lower than those of the original monovalent vaccines.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) on the 24th, among 2,078,511 bivalent vaccine doses administered, 692 adverse events were reported, resulting in a reporting rate (number of reports per 1,000 vaccinations) of 0.3%. This is lower than the cumulative reporting rate of 3.7% for monovalent vaccines. Among the bivalent vaccines, the Moderna vaccine based on BA.1 had the highest reporting rate at 0.4%, followed by the Pfizer vaccines based on both BA.1 and BA.4/5 at 0.2%.

The health authorities are actively encouraging additional winter vaccinations, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, while urging caution regarding possible adverse events after vaccination. The authorities stated, "Those receiving the vaccine should remain at the vaccination site for 15 to 30 minutes to monitor for any adverse events and should carefully observe themselves for at least 3 hours after returning home." They added, "For at least 3 days after vaccination, special attention should be paid, and if high fever or unusual physical symptoms occur, medical consultation should be sought."

If severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) occur, immediate contact with emergency services (119) or visiting the nearest emergency room is necessary. ▲Chest pain or pressure ▲Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath ▲Rapid or irregular heartbeat symptoms such as myocarditis or pericarditis require prompt medical evaluation.

As of midnight on the same day, the vaccination rate for those aged 60 and above (based on eligible population) was 18.6%, and the vaccination rate for vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, care facilities, and mental health promotion facilities was 21.2%. The overall vaccination rate for those aged 18 and above was 6.6%. The government has designated the next four weeks until the 18th of next month as the "Winter Intensive Vaccination Period," aiming to achieve a 50% vaccination rate among the elderly aged 60 and above and a 60% vaccination rate in vulnerable facilities.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force will visit local health care councils and vulnerable facilities over the next week to explain the necessity of vaccination, the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, and the importance of the roles of local governments and the medical community. Director Baek Kyung-ran of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated, "The recent rapid increase in winter vaccination rates is believed to be due to the public’s trust in vaccine information and safety." She added, "We will communicate more frequently on-site and continuously share the latest information to guide people to receive vaccines with confidence."

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