“Winter season expected in December… Vaccination required in October”
“JN.1 vaccine is sufficiently effective against KP.3 variant”
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced on the 28th that the COVID-19 vaccination scheduled for high-risk groups in October is a newly approved vaccine that is effective against the current epidemic.
On the afternoon of the 28th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency held a briefing session for reporters and explained matters related to the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the JN.1 series vaccine in April, and two types of JN.1 series vaccines have been developed so far: the JN.1 vaccine and the KP.2 vaccine.
Japan, the UK, and the European Medicines Agency recommend the JN.1 vaccine, while the US and Canada recommend the KP.2 vaccine. Our country has decided to use the JN.1 vaccine after deliberation by the COVID-19 Vaccine Expert Advisory Council and the Immunization Expert Committee.
The KP.3 variant currently prevalent in Korea is a sub-variant of the JN.1 variant, and genetically, the JN.1 variant and the KP.2 and KP.3 variants are similar. The JN.1 vaccine is known to be more than five times more effective than the XBB series vaccines used in existing vaccinations.
A disease control agency official said, “The JN.1 vaccine is a new vaccine that is in the process of being approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety,” and “The KP.2 vaccine can be used if it is approved in our country, but it will take a lot of time to get approval.”
An expert who attended the briefing that day explained, “COVID-19 is expected to have two epidemics per year, and during this winter season, the epidemic will likely occur between December of this year and March of next year.” He added, “It takes at least two to four weeks for the vaccine to be fully effective, so vaccinations should begin in October to achieve full protection.”
He continued, “In the case of new mutations, the dominant strain changes about 3-4 times a year, so in a way, it’s almost like a game of tag. It’s important to be exposed to a similar type of virus (through vaccination) before it becomes prevalent, and the goal is not to keep up with the virus.”
He said, “Even looking at Pfizer or Moderna’s preclinical data or other data, there is no clear difference confirmed between the JN.1 vaccine and the KP.2 vaccine,” and “Even if there are some slight differences, it is very difficult to see them as leading to a substantial difference in the infection prevention effect or existing preventive effect.”
COVID-19 vaccinations are scheduled to be administered simultaneously with influenza vaccines starting in October, focusing on high-risk groups.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, “Both the JN.1 vaccine and the KP.2 vaccine will be sufficiently effective against KP.3,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that vaccinations can proceed without a hitch in a timely manner, and we will pursue the development of a domestic mRNA vaccine by 2028.”
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2024-08-28 20:50:27