Safety over 65 years old has been verified, but there are insufficient data to determine vaccine effectiveness.
It seems that the guidelines for disease administration will be decided
Not recommended for pregnant and lactating women… Strong Criticism of “Government Responsibility Evasion”
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) approved the use of a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine developed by AstraZeneca in the UK on the 10th. Subjects are adults 18 years of age or older. Senior citizens over 65 were also included. However,’careful vaccination’ was recommended for the elderly. Although safety and certain effects were confirmed in all age groups, it is because of the lack of clinical trial cases in the elderly. The introduction of 20 million NovaVax vaccines in the US, which the government is promoting, is expected to be confirmed immediately after the Lunar New Year holidays. A government official said, “Next Monday (15th) the NovaVax vaccine contract process will be finalized.” The NovaVax vaccine is produced by SK Bioscience through technology transfer. It will be introduced as early as May.
“Astra vaccination for the elderly, the doctor carefully judges and decides”
UK AstraZeneca’s new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine has been approved for domestic use. When 1.5 million doses (for 750,000 people) produced by SK Bioscience are shipped from the 24th, inoculation begins on the 26th.
The problem is vaccination for the elderly. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) held a final inspection committee on the 10th to determine permission for use of all adults (18 years of age or older), with a clue that “A vaccination over 65 years of age must be carefully determined.” Food and Drug Administration Chief Kim Kang-rip explained at the briefing that “meaning that the doctor should fully determine the benefits of vaccination according to the subject’s condition”. Yu-hwan, chairman of the Central Pharmacy Review Committee, said, “(Vaccination for the elderly) will be determined by determining the risk versus benefit at the clinical site.”
In the end, there was no clear conclusion on vaccination for the elderly until the final approval. This is because there is still insufficient data to be 100% sure of the effect of the elderly. AstraZeneca vaccine showed a 62% prevention rate in a clinical trial involving 8895 adults in the UK and Brazil. The vaccine effectiveness standard of the World Health Organization (WHO) and others is 50%. Among the subjects, 660 (7.4%) were 65 years or older. The vaccine is effective for the elderly, too, but statistically, it is insufficient to draw a definite conclusion. This is why some countries, such as Germany, recommended restrictions on vaccination for the elderly. In Korea, specific standards or guidelines for determining vaccination for the elderly are expected to be determined by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccination Specialist Committee, which will be held after the Lunar New Year holidays. It is the opinion of almost all experts as well as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety that safety is sufficient. Clinical trials did not show any serious adverse events in people over 65 years of age. The incidence of abnormal cases was similar to or rather lower than that of adults. However, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety decided not to recommend the use to pregnant and lactating women except in exceptional cases. Many experts say there is no reason to exclude older people from vaccination with AstraZeneca. The elderly, who are in the most urgent need of vaccination, should receive a large amount of vaccine first. Kim Moran, a professor at the National Cancer Center, said, “Elderly people are at greater risk when not vaccinated than when they receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.” Eun-mi Chun, a professor of respiratory medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, said, “It is certain that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective in preventing serious deterioration or death.”
However, the president of the Korean Medical Association, Choi Choi, criticized it as “avoiding the government’s responsibility and leaving the job.” Chairman Choi said, “If you leave the doctor’s individual judgment on whether or not to inoculate the elderly in a situation where there is no clear ground, the public’s distrust will inevitably increase.” “If there is no change in the government’s position, the medical consultation will advise doctors not to inoculate the AstraZeneca vaccine to the elderly,” he said.
Jiwoon Lee [email protected]·Image Reporter
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