"High Risk of Severe Illness and Death, Vaccination is Essential"
The fourth dose vaccination rate among immunocompromised individuals, who are at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 infection, was found to be somewhat low, falling short of 40%. A total of 604 immunocompromised patients received the preventive antibody injection Evusheld.
On the 25th briefing, the COVID-19 Vaccination Promotion Task Force stated, "Immunocompromised individuals, such as those with blood cancers or those taking immunosuppressants who have difficulty or insufficient immune response formation, are a group that requires special protection against COVID-19," and urged, "They should actively participate in the fourth dose vaccination."
Among the 1,400,182 immunocompromised individuals in Korea, 525,086 have completed the fourth dose, resulting in a vaccination rate of only 37.5%. This is even lower than the current fourth dose vaccination rate of 47.0% among the elderly aged 60 and above.
The task force explained that domestic studies showed that the risk of death among immunocompromised COVID-19 patients was higher than that of non-immunocompromised groups.
Specifically, the in-hospital mortality rate was higher for immunocompromised patients at 9.6%, compared to 2.3% for non-immunocompromised patients, and the survival rate was lower at 0.936 for immunocompromised versus 0.980 for non-immunocompromised.
On the other hand, an analysis targeting domestic immunocompromised individuals and members of nursing hospitals and facilities showed that compared to the third dose group, the fourth dose group had a 20.3% higher infection prevention effect, a 50.6% better severe illness prevention effect, and a 53.3% better death prevention effect.
As of the 14th, the adverse reaction reporting rate for COVID-19 vaccination among immunocompromised individuals in Korea was 3.47 cases per 1,000 vaccinations, which is lower than the overall reporting rate of 3.71 cases per 1,000 vaccinations. Among the reported adverse reactions, 96.4% were mild symptoms such as headache and fever.
The task force said, "Analysis of vaccine adverse reactions in immunocompromised individuals showed a lower reporting rate compared to the general population, and most reported adverse reactions were mild."
Evusheld, a preventive antibody injection available for blood cancer patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, and patients with congenital immunodeficiency, has had 1,723 reservations since the 18th of last month, and 604 patients have received the injection since the 8th. To receive Evusheld, medical staff must determine that the injection is appropriate and then register the patient and apply for a reservation through the COVID-19 Vaccination Management System.
The task force explained, "Clinical trials confirmed that Evusheld reduces infection by 93% and severe illness and death by 50%, and its effectiveness is maintained against Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5."
Meanwhile, the task force plans to announce the basic direction for the second half of the year’s vaccination campaign for the updated vaccine effective against Omicron subvariants on the 31st. Im Eul-gi, head of the Vaccination Management Division of the task force, said, "(Regarding additional vaccinations for those aged 60 and above) discussions with experts have not yet been finalized," and added, "We will consider various factors related to the updated vaccine and provide guidance next week."
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