AZ vaccine for 780,000 people will be inoculated

from the 26th

The KCDA plans to complete the 2nd vaccination by May

Dosing in the first quarter, release a lot of all 5 serial numbers

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, which starts vaccination on the 26th, received lot release from the MFDS.

 

As a result, it is delivered from the factory and administered at each inoculation site.

 

The lot-released vaccine is expected to be effective until June, and the KCDA plans to complete the vaccination until May.

 

On the 17th, the MFDS approved lot release for 5 serial numbers of AstraZeneca Korea's COVID-19 vaccine.

 

The total amount is about 1,574,000 doses, and considering that the vaccine is given twice, it is for 787,000 people in total.

 

All of the contracts between AstraZeneca and the government, which will be inoculated in the first quarter, have been lot released.

 

It is manufactured by SK Bioscience in Korea.

 

The expiration date of the product released this time for lot release is mid-June.

 

The KCDA has a policy to complete the second vaccination by May to the targets for the amount of vaccination, so the short expiration date is not expected to be a problem.

 

The KCDA plans to inoculate this vaccine to ▲geriatric hospitals and nursing facility residents and workers (approximately 272,000 people) ▲high-risk medical institution workers (approximately 362,000 people) ▲COVID-19 first responders (approximately 78,000 people).

 

However, elderly people over 65 years of age are not eligible for vaccination.

 

Nursing hospitals and nursing facility residents and employees will receive the first vaccination from the 26th.

 

It is expected that the first inoculation in Korea will come out of this group.

 

The KCDA plans to complete the first vaccination of the subjects receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine in the first quarter by March, and the second vaccination by May.

 

The interval between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine is 4 to 12 weeks.

 

The KCDA concluded that the second vaccination will be administered approximately 8 weeks after the first vaccination.

 

The MFDS completed the lot release in 20 days, which usually took 2-3 months.

 

For rapid lot release, Approval and lot release were simultaneously performed.

 

The quantity of this lot release was produced before approval on the 10th.

 

An official from the MFDS explained, "the quantity produced in advance to obtain permission is also included." An official from the MFDS explained, "All of the lot released quantities have been approved, and there will be additional lot releases according to the inoculation plan in the future." AstraZeneca vaccine will be supplied to 10 million people this year (excluding COVAX Facility quantities).