PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.15 No.28, July 14, 2022 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• COVID-19 Special Report 2022-07-14

  0 109 81

  Analysis of the preventive effect of the fourth coronavirus disease vaccine dose in immunocompromised individuals and residents of elderly care hospitals and facilities

  Yoo-Yeon Kim, Eun Jung Jang, Ryu Kyung Kim, Seon Kyeong Park, Ju Hee Lee, Young Joon Park, Geun-Yong Kwon, Jee Yeon Shin, Sang-Yoon Choi, Mi Jin Jeong

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(28): 1984-1995

  

  

  Abstract

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  The fourth coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine dose in the Republic of Korea has been made available since February 14, 2022, with priority given to the high-risk groups, namely immunocompromised individuals and residents of elderly care hospitals and facilities. We aimed to evaluate the preventive effects of the vaccine with regard to infection control, prevention of escalation to severe illness, and mortality over time. Our study sample included individuals with immunocompromised status and residents of elderly care hospitals and facilities, for whom over 4 months had elapsed since the receipt of the third vaccination. We analyzed the data of 1,509,970 subjects. The study period lasted from February 16 (when the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose was first released) to April 30, 2022. During the analysis period, compared with the third vaccination, the fourth vaccination had a prevention effect of 20.3% against infection, 50.6% against severe illness, and 53.3% against mortality. The infection prevention effect 30 days after the fourth dose had decreased to 8.9%, although the mortality prevention effect was maintained at over 40%. Our findings confirmed the effectiveness of the fourth vaccination in the period when the Omicron variant was dominant. Our results emphasize the need for establishing nation-wide vaccination plans against COVID-19 in the future.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-07-14

  0 120 76

  Results of the tuberculosis epidemiological investigation congregated settings, 2021

  Yong-joon Park, Jin-a Park, Sunmi Han, Jieun Kim, Subin Park, Yunhyung Kwon, Youmi Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(28): 1997-2016

  

  

  Abstract

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  Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Individuals can become infected when they are in close contacts with people with TB. Therefore, the early identification of TB patients through rapid epidemiological investigation and treatment of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) are considered one of the effective strategies for TB control and prevention, when an active TB case is detected. In addition, World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends screening and treatment for LTBI, and prioritizing contacts of TB patients.
  The epidemiological investigation for TB cases was based on identifying contacts of TB patients in congregate settings and households and conducting diagnostic tests for TB/LTBI. In 2021, a total of 158 cases (568.2 cases per 100,000 population) among 27,808 household contacts of TB patients, and a total of 85 cases (94.4 cases per 100,000 population) among 90,073 congregate setting contacts of TB patients were early identified. As compared to the incidence of TB (18,335 cases; 35.7 cases per 100,000 population) in 2021 in the Republic of Korea (ROK), the risk of TB transmission was 15.9 times higher in household contacts and 2.6 times higher in congregate setting contacts, suggesting that comprehensive control measures are required. In particular a total of 40 cases were diagnosed with TB in social welfare facilities, of which 87.5% (35 cases) were from welfare facilities for seniors.
  In addition, the number of TB cases among partners or children within households and the risk of TB transmission among grandparents (4,301.1 cases per 100,000 population) and parents (1,164 cases per 100,000 population) were found to be high; thus, proper management of TB patients including testing and treatment within households is necessary.
  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) provides support for diagnostic tests for TB/LTBI and treatment and care for contacts of TB patients in congregate settings and households. We will continue to strengthen the national strategies of TB control and prevention, in cooperation with provinces and medical experts to reach the goal to end TB by 2030.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2022-07-14

  0 98 102

  Trends in prevalence of current smoking among adolescents, 2011-2021

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(28): 2017-2018

  

  

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