PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.27, July 01, 2021 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and SurveillanceIssues on COVID-19 vaccinesNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Issues on COVID-19 vaccines 2021-07-01

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  Preliminary effectiveness of vaccination for people vaccinated for COVID-19 in the first quarter of 2021

  Eon Joo Park, Seonju Yi, Seung-Jin Kim, Young Joon Park, Jin Lee, Do-sang Lim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(27): 1904-1909

  Abstract

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  In the Republic of Korea, rollout of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccine began on February 26, 2020, and the AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1) vaccines and Pfizer (BNT162b2) vaccines were administered to 860,000 prioritized population. This report aims to follow up the vaccine effectiveness of the first dose of the vaccine and to evaluate the current vaccination policies. As of April 8, 2021—6 weeks since vaccinations began—we compared the incidence rate of COVID-19 between vaccinated and non-vaccinated people in eligible cohorts and assessed the infection prevention effect in the early stages of vaccination. After statistically adjusting for the difference in the observation period among all the cohorts, we found that the incidence rate in cohorts for ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 vaccination decreased by 90.8% and 100%, respectively.

• COVID-19 Special Report 2021-07-01

  0 241 116

  Update: April 2021 status and characteristics of COVID-19 variant virus outbreak in the Republic of Korea

  Ae Kyung Park, Il-Hwan Kim, Jeong-Min Kim, Nam-Joo Lee, Jee Eun Rhee, Eun-Jin Kim, Jia Kim, Jung Yeon Kim, Jin Gwack, Eun-Kyoung Kim, Young-Man Kim, Sang-Eun Lee, Young Joon Park

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(27): 1910-1925

  

  

  Abstract

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  Regarding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Republic of Korea, the government intends to evaluate the domestic situation and respond to variant viruses by checking the status, dynamics, and the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 monthly. The aim of this study was to analyze the status and characteristics of COVID-19 variant viruses in the Republic of Korea. As such, COVID-19 virus variant surveillance was conducted through full-length genome analysis and spike protein gene analysis for positive samples of confirmed cases related to various domestic outbreaks and imported cases.
  The epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed using initial and in-depth epidemiological investigation results reported through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s (KDCA) COVID-19 information management system; the information system for managing confirmed patients, and wired monitoring. Also, clinical characteristics such as severity and the occurrence of group cases were analyzed.
  Among the number of confirmed cases in April 2021 (18,927), a total of 2,774 isolates were laboratory tested during the month of April for identification of variants of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 302 accounting for 10.9% of the tested were confirmed as Variants of Concern (VOC). The rate of sequenced isolates was 14.7% and the rate of VOC in April was 15.8%, which marked an increase of 9.7% when compared to March 2021.
  By May 3rd 2021, a total of 632 patients of VOCs were confirmed in the Republic of Korea. The 632 VOC cases were divided into three groups: 501Y.V1 (VOC originating from the United Kingdom), 501Y.V2 (VOC originating from South Africa) and 501Y.V3 (VOC originating Brazil). There were 551 cases (87.2%) of 501Y.V1, 71 cases (11.2%) of 501Y.V2, and 10 cases (1.6%) of 501Y.V3.
  Among the 632 cases, there were 324 imported cases (51.3%). The patients’ average age was 38.1, By age group, there were 71 cases (21.5%) each in their 20s and, 30s. 223 cases (70.6%) were Korean nationals. 192 cases (58.2%) were symptomatic at diagnosis, and 69 cases (20.9%) presented mild respiratory symptoms with fever. Most symptoms of VOC patients in the Republic of Korea were mild, but 9 of the 501Y.V1 cases, and 1 of the 501Y.V2 cases were severe/critical (including one death). The rate of severe/critical cases of 501Y.V1 was 1.86%, and the fatality rate of 501Y.V1 cases was 2.01%. The rate of severe/critical cases of 501Y.V2 was 8.51%, and the fatality rate of 501Y.V2 cases was 9.22%.
  A total of 25 VOC-related group cases were confirmed in April 2021, with 569 confirmed cases (90 laboratory confirmed cases, and 479 epidemiological cases), which was lower than those confirmed in March, when there was a total of 13 VOC-related group cases, with 284 confirmed cases (81 laboratory confirmed cases, and 203 epidemiological cases). There was a total of 19 VOC-related group cases and 1,094 confirmed cases (256 laboratory confirmed cases and 838 epidemiological related cases). By gender, there were 578 male cases (52.8%) and 224 female cases (20.5%) aged 20-29 years, and 470 (43.0%) cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province, followed by 308 cases (28.0%) reported in Ulsan Metropolitan City.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-07-01

  0 243 121

  Results of the Korean National Private-Public Mix Tuberculosis Control Project: Analysis of the indicators for tuberculosis management in 2017-2019

  Min Jinsoo, Kim Ju Sang, Park Jae Seuk, Song Chieeun, Jang Yoojin, Kim Jaetae, Kwon Yunhyung, Kim Youmi

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(27): 1926-1933

  Abstract

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  To manage tuberculosis (TB) patients treated by private medical institutions, the Korean government has been promoting a national Private-Public Mix (PPM) TB control project with the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases since 2011. This study analyzed the indicators for TB management reported by medical institutions participating in PPM TB control project from 2017 to 2019. The final treatment results were confirmed through observation for a total of five quarters by dividing the reported date by quarter.
  As diagnositic tests and key indicators of the management rate of active TB patients, sputum smears (94.3%), culture tests (93.7%), and drug susceptibility tests (93.5%) were conducted. Major findings indicated that the compliance rate of initial standard treatment was high (93.6%). Further findings indicated that the treatment success rate for sputum acid-fast bacillus (AFB) positive patients was 84.9%; a decrease from 86.8% in 2018 to 84.7% in 2019.
  Furthermore, the case investigation rate and contactor screening rate, which are indicators related to the early detection of active TB patients and TB prevention treatment, were high at approximately 98.4% and 90% (89.4% in adults and 91.8% in children) respectively. However, the rate of initiated latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment tended to be low at 53.8% in adults and 85.8% in children, requiring private and public cooperation to increase the rate of treatment for LTBI.
  This study concluded that Korea's overall TB management indicators are improving, but some regions or institutions are still below the national average. To increase the success rate of TB treatment, measures to improve the target underachieving indicators through national PPM TB control project are required. In addition, improvements in TB management indicators will continue to be used as a basis for assessing the effectiveness of PPM control project.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-07-01

  0 487 156

  Immunization program against influenza in Korea, 2020-2021 season

  Kim So Yeon, Lee Hye Lim, Choo Jihye, Ahn AeSun, Lee Jaeyoung, Yang EunJi, Hong JungIk

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(27): 1934-1946

  Abstract

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  The Korean ‘National Immunization Program against Influenza’ has been implemented every year since 1997. In the 2020-2021 season, as part of the program free influenza vaccination were offered to the elderly (62 years of age and older), pregnant women and children (under 18 years of age). As temporary assistance for those in need, free influenza vaccinations were also made available, for disabled pensioners and medical aid beneficiaries.
  In the 2020-2021 season, the influenza vaccination rate was 73.0% for the elderly, 47.8% for pregnant women, 73.4% for children, and 19.7% for disabled pensioners and medical aid beneficiaries. Key finding indicated that, in children, the vaccination rate tended to decrease as age increased. In addition, adverse reactions to the influenza vaccine were reported in 1,626 cases; 1,015 cases among the elderly people, 34 cases among pregnant women, 565 cases among children, 12 cases disabled pensioners and medical aid beneficiaries.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-07-01

  0 318 97

  Six-year (2013-2018) review of the Korean sentinel surveillance system of health care-associated infections

  Lee Sangeun, Lee Seungjae, Bahk Hyunjung, Lee Yeonkyeng

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(27): 1947-1956

  

  

  Abstract

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  Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant cause of illness and death. There are six different multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) that cause HAIs (vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, VRSA; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA; vancomycin-resistant Enterococci, VRE; multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MRPA; multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, MRAB; carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, CRE). The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) launched a sentinel surveillance system to monitor the rate of HAIs in 2011. This study analyzed six years (2013-2018) of HAI results reported by 93 participating hospitals. The total number of HAIs was 497,988, including blood-infected cases and cases where other body sites were infected. The annual number (isolation rate per 1,000 patient days) was 77,272 (3.41) in 2013, 80,113 (3.51) in 2014, 85,017 (3.73) in 2015, 85,755 (3.60) in 2016, 83,357 (3.60) in 2017, and 86,474 (3.70) in 2018. Key findings indicated that CRE and VRE-annual numbers and isolation rates tended to increase across all cases as well as in the blood infected cases. Notably, this study determined that although CRE showed a clear increase, increase in VRE might be because its reporting guidance was changed in 2016. With the increase in CRE, the surveillance system for CRE was changed from a sentinel surveillance to total case reporting from June 3rd, 2017. To further investigate the effectiveness of the new surveillance system, further studies are needed.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-07-01

  0 186 109

  Trends in prevalence of current smoking among Korean adolescents, 2007-2020

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(27): 1957-1960

  

  

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