SK Bioscience "COVID-19 Vaccine for High-Risk Groups in H1, Skycovione Also Available"

Recombinant DNA Vaccine Expected to Be Available for Vaccination in the First Half of the Year

Gene recombinant COVID-19 vaccines, including SK Bioscience's 'Skycovione,' will continue to be used for vaccinations in the first half of the year.

Packaging work for the COVID-19 vaccine 'Skycovione' is being carried out at SK Bioscience L House in Andong-si, Gyeongbuk.
[Photo by SK Bioscience]

On the 10th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced the COVID-19 vaccination plan for high-risk groups in the first half of 2023, stating that gene recombinant vaccines such as Skycovione and Nuvaxovid are also available for vaccination.

The first half COVID-19 vaccination for high-risk groups is being implemented ahead of the winter vaccination scheduled for the second half of this year, considering that immunocompromised individuals have lower immune acquisition and shorter duration of acquired immunity. Those who are contraindicated for messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine administration or who do not wish to receive mRNA vaccines can selectively receive Skycovione or other gene recombinant vaccines.

The vaccination plan for high-risk groups in the first half targets individuals aged 12 and older who are immunocompromised among those who have received bivalent vaccines, as well as those aged 65 and older who are recommended for vaccination based on medical judgment. Advance reservations and same-day vaccinations will begin on the 15th of this month, and scheduled vaccinations based on advance reservations will start on the 29th. The recommended vaccination period for the first half is from the 15th of this month to the 30th of next month, considering the interval with the winter vaccination.

If you wish to receive a gene recombinant COVID-19 vaccine, vaccinations are available at designated medical institutions and public health centers nationwide. Advance reservations can be made on the COVID-19 vaccination website.

An SK Bioscience official explained, "The gene recombinant platform applied to Skycovione, Korea's first COVID-19 vaccine, has been used for a long time in existing vaccines such as influenza, hepatitis B, and cervical cancer vaccines, and is evaluated to have proven safety and efficacy."

SK Bioscience also confirmed neutralizing antibody immune responses against the Omicron variant (BA.1) through an extended study of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of Skycovione. Recently, additional research on neutralizing antibody activity against the XBB subvariant and BN.1 variant, which are currently spreading domestically and globally, is underway, and it is expected that data will be secured as early as the first half of the year to enhance its utilization.