Nearly 300,000 Vaccinated in 8 Days... 2,883 Adverse Reaction Reports (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] As of midnight on the 6th, an additional 67,840 people received the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of vaccinated individuals close to 300,000 just eight days after the vaccination began. As the vaccination pace accelerates, the total number of adverse reaction reports has increased to 2,883, including seven death cases.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that as of midnight on this day, 67,840 people newly received the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total number of first-dose vaccinations to 296,380. Among them, 291,131 people received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 5,249 people received the Pfizer vaccine.

As the number of vaccinated individuals increases, reports of adverse reactions are also rising. In just one day, 1,305 new suspected adverse reaction reports were added, bringing the total to 2,883. Of these, 1,300 cases are related to the AstraZeneca vaccine, and 5 cases are related to the Pfizer vaccine. The cumulative suspected reports are 2,833 for AstraZeneca and 16 for Pfizer. These numbers exceed the number of AstraZeneca vaccine recipients (291,131) and Pfizer vaccine recipients (5,249). Additionally, the adverse reaction report rate is about 0.97% of the total 296,380 vaccinated individuals as of midnight on this day.

Among these, 2,849 cases are mild symptoms such as headache, fever, and nausea, but 11 new suspected cases of anaphylaxis, a severe systemic allergic reaction, were added, bringing the cumulative total to 24. Among these, one case was anaphylactic shock, and the remaining 23 were reported as anaphylaxis-like reactions.

Two additional suspected severe cases such as convulsions were reported. Both patients with suspected severe reactions are in their 50s and received vaccinations on the 3rd and 4th of this month, respectively. Since vaccinations began on the 26th of last month, there have been a total of seven death cases within one week.

Park Young-jun, head of the Adverse Reaction Investigation Support Team at the Promotion Team, explained, "Both individuals are hospitalized in (long-term care) hospitals and have underlying conditions," adding, "These are not cases where acute severe adverse reactions appeared." He further stated, "The severe reactions did not appear within 1 to 2 hours but occurred after about 9 hours or roughly 20 hours, with symptoms of loss of consciousness, and they are currently receiving inpatient treatment."

The quarantine authorities are currently investigating suspected severe adverse reaction cases, including deaths. So far, no causal relationship with vaccination has been confirmed among the reported cases.

A Promotion Team official said, "A closed meeting of the Vaccination Damage Investigation Committee is scheduled for tomorrow (the 7th) to review the severe adverse reaction reports collected over the past week," adding, "A preliminary conclusion will be explained in the briefing on Monday (the 8th)."

During the Vaccination Damage Investigation Committee meeting, the epidemiological investigation data will be thoroughly reviewed to determine whether there is a causal relationship between vaccination and death or severe adverse reactions.

The Promotion Team emphasized, "We will regularly hold the Damage Investigation Committee meeting once a week to review the severe adverse reaction reports submitted during the week, provide expert evaluations, and communicate the results transparently."