[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] It has been revealed that a clinical trial for heterologous vaccination using AstraZeneca (AZ) and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines is underway.
On the 3rd, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that a clinical trial involving a first dose of the AZ vaccine followed by a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is currently in progress.
The vaccination plan for July, when the general adult population will be vaccinated, will be announced by the authorities in the third week of this month. At a regular briefing that day, Kwon Jun-wook, the 2nd Deputy Director of the CDCH, stated, "A heterologous vaccination study consisting of one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine followed by two doses of the Pfizer vaccine is currently underway in Korea," adding, "Research combining other vaccines will be conducted soon once the budget is confirmed." He also said, "If a domestically produced vaccine is developed in the first half of next year, the possibility of heterologous vaccination will also need to be reviewed," and "We are planning research with this in mind."
According to the heterologous vaccination clinical trial plan previously announced by the CDCH, about 500 participants, all of whom have received the AZ vaccine, are involved. The authorities plan to administer other vaccines approved domestically to these participants and analyze immune responses, neutralizing antibodies, binding antibodies, and immune cells (T-cells).
Kim Ki-nam, head of the Vaccination Planning Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, explained, "The July vaccination plan will be announced after review by the Vaccination Expert Committee by the third week of June, considering the supply schedule and quantity of each vaccine." He also said, "Groups prioritized for vaccination in July, besides high school seniors and elementary, middle, and high school teachers, are currently under review." Previously, the task force announced that adults in their 50s would be vaccinated first in July.
Regarding the vaccination schedule after June 19, when the first half of this year's vaccinations conclude, Kim said, "Vaccinations with the Janssen vaccine for reservists, as well as Pfizer vaccinations for military personnel and those under 30 who were vaccinated in the first half, are planned to continue until the end of this month."
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