[2021 National Audit] Jung Eun-kyung "Establish Vaccine Safety Committee to Expand Recognition Scope of Adverse Reactions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, announced plans to establish a COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Committee with the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and other professional societies to expand the scope of recognized adverse reactions.

On the 20th, during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee's audit, when criticism arose that the government was too passive in recognizing adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine, Commissioner Jung stated that a separate organization would be established.

He said, "Since the COVID-19 vaccine is a new vaccine, side effects not identified during the approval process or new investigative evidence are being released. Therefore, periodic and extensive evaluations are necessary, not just a one-time assessment. We will establish a Safety Committee so that the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences and other professional societies can conduct these evaluations professionally and fairly."

Commissioner Jung added, "If the scope of causality recognition is expanded through analysis of reported data, the standards will be applied retroactively to provide appropriate support and compensation to existing reporters as well as those who have not reported."

The government currently evaluates causality of adverse reaction reports following vaccination through the Vaccination Injury Investigation Team, but so far, only 2 deaths, 5 severe cases, and 392 cases of anaphylaxis have been recognized as causally related.