PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.45, November 04, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceIssues on COVID-19 vaccines

• Issues on COVID-19 vaccines 2021-11-04

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  Current status of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in third-year high school students

  Insob Hwang, Jeongsuk Song, Soon-young Seo, Yuna Kim, Yeon-Kyeng Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(45): 3162-3168

  

  

  Abstract

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  In the Republic of Korea, to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, the first dose of COVID-19 Comirnaty vaccine (Pfizer vaccine) was administered to third-year high school students starting on July 19, 2021. On August 9, 3 weeks after the first dose, the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was administered.
  This study analyzed cases of suspected adverse events after administration of the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and results of adverse event monitoring through mobile phone text messages in third-year high school students. As of September 25, 2021, 3,917 cases of suspected adverse events were reported in third-year high school students. Approximately 97.6% of these events were non-serious, such as fever, headache, and joint pain. There were 26 reported cases of myocarditis/pericarditis. Upon reviewing the accuracy of diagnosis, nine cases did not satisfy the diagnostic criteria for myocarditis/pericarditis and the other 15 students who developed myocarditis/pericarditis subsequently recovered. A total of 17 cases of suspected anaphylaxis was reported. Upon reviewing the accuracy of diagnosis, nine cases satisfied the criteria for anaphylaxis.
  Health status was monitored through mobile phone text messages. More adverse events were reported after the second dose of the vaccine than first dose; however, on day 5 after vaccination, the frequency of adverse event symptoms decreased to a similar level when students who received the first dose.

• Issues on COVID-19 Vaccines 2021-11-04

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  Latest trend of the COVID-19 booster vaccination

  In-Ohk Ouh, Hyunju In, Heeji Lim, Hyejin Park, Hyeon Guk Kim, Byung-chul Kim, Sung Soon Kim, Yookyung Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(45): 3169-3178

  Abstract

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  According to global vaccine trackers, as of 2021, at least 201 countries started vaccinating against Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19). Furthermore, in consideration of the continuous increase in COVID-19, the spread of delta variants, and the maintenance period of the vaccine efficacy, many countries administered COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. In the Republic of Korea, COVID-19 vaccine booster shots were made available on October 25, 2021 for individuals 60 years of age and older, health care workers, and for those with reduced immunogenicity (such as high-risk groups). Therefore, it was necessary to collect and analyze vaccine-related literature and the vaccine manufacturers' latest information to implement COVID-19 vaccine booster shots approved for emergency use.
  This study aimed to further understand COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and to provide information on the efficacy and clinical trial research studies overseas. According to prior published studies related to booster shots and neutralizing antibodies, various factors affect vaccine efficacy, such as the time elapsed after vaccination, the status of the delta variant outbreak, and the differences in vaccine immunogenicity in high-risk groups. For example, in an interval vaccination study conducted in Israel, 608 (1.8%) of 33,993 people were diagnosed with a breakthrough infection after being vaccinated with Pfizer (BNT162b2). In addition, it was found that 146 days after vaccination, the number of cases increased from 187 to 421, which meant that breakthrough infections increased after vaccination. In a follow-up study to the Israeli booster shot study, a booster shot group had an 11.3-fold lower infection rate and a 19.5-fold lower rate of severe illness than the secondary vaccination group.
  According to this study’s findings, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, breakthrough infections or delta variants, make booster shots imperative for those with reduced immunities. This study recommended that governments closely monitor the latest studies before establishing a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot policy.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-11-04

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  Review of the causes and implications for the recent increasing parainfluenza virus detection

  Heui Man Kim, Nam-joo Lee, Sang Hee Woo, Hye Jun Jo, Jee Eun Rhee, Eun-Jin Kim, Jeong Ok Cha, Su Jin Park, Dong Han Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(45): 3188-3194

  

  

  Abstract

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  Since the onset of the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, domestic respiratory diseases decreased significantly due to social distancing, personal hygiene rules and restrictions on overseas entry. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s (KDCA) Korea Influenza and Respiratory Viruses Surveillance System (KINRESS), a national monitoring system, encountered changes in influenza and other respiratory virus activity due to the reduction of respiratory patients, but sustained national surveillance by using the diagnostic results for respiratory patients in private diagnostic medical institutes. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, only non-enveloped viruses such as rhinovirus, adenovirus and bocavirus were detected. Conversely, enveloped viruses such as the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, etc. either were not detected or showed very low detection rates. However, the parainfluenza virus was detected in August 2021 and increased more than 50% in the 42^nd week. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parainfluenza virus was mainly prevalent in spring and summer (from April to August) with a 10% detection rate among all age groups. However, the detection rate increased in September 2021 due to the high prevalence in the 0~6 year old age group. This unprecedented high detection rate among infants and toddlers was thought to be because they are most vulnerable to respiratory infection due to the increase in mobility that arose from the recent increase in COVID-19 vaccination and in the return to face-to-face classes at childcare facilities and schools. Increased detection rates of the parainfluenza virus suggested that other respiratory viral infectious disease may increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially among children and the elderly who are vulnerable to infection. Therefore, it is crucial to observe personal hygiene rules such as hand washing and cough etiquette and to strengthen respiratory surveillance systems.