PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.15 No.9, March 03, 2022 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceIssues on COVID-19 VaccinesNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Issues on COVID-19 Vaccines 2022-03-03

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  Latest Trend of the COVID-19 Booster Vaccination, 2022

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

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(9): 556-564

  Abstract

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  In 2022, most countries worldwide are conducting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs to protect their respective nations during the pandemic. However, as of February 2022, the continuously increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the spread of variants such as Omicron, and the effectiveness of vaccines have made nations consider third and fourth dose booster vaccinations. The third dose of mRNA vaccines increases neutralization against the Omicron variant. Specifically, neutralization decreases after the second dose over time. However, the third dose increases neutralization against the Omicron variant. Analyzing the cellular immunogenicity identified the highly increased cytokine of IFN-g and IL-2 after the third dose of the mRNA wild type and Omicron variant. In addition, cellular immunogenicity also increased. The effectiveness against hospitalization increases 30-35% over six months after the second dose, However, the effectiveness of the third dose of mRNA subsequently increases to 0-3 months 80-95% and 4-6 months 75-85% respectively. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, nations need to consider the fourth vaccination of the elderly, immunosuppressed people, and the status of Omicron. As a result, it is necessary to consider managing preventive measures against epidemics, COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and the development of targeted Omicron vaccines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-03-03

  0 119 57

  Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 cases reported in Honam, Republic of Korea, January – December, 2021

  Yoomi Noh, Eunyoung Kim, Jaehwa Chung, Hyoseon Jeong, Aejung Lee, Jeonghee Yu, Sujin Hong

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(9): 565-577

  

  

  Abstract

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  Since the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in 20 January 2020 in the Republic of Korea (ROK), there were a total of 635,253 cases reported nationally, as of 31 December 2021, of which 570,111 cases were reported in 2021. This report aimed to analyse the 2021 epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Honam, a region in ROK, which includes Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk and Jeju. Findings indicated that, between January 1, and December 31, 2021, there were a total of 25,416 COVID-19 patients including 177 deaths reported through the COVID-19 Information Management System of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Males accounted for 51.4% of the total confirmed cases, while there were more deaths reported among females (54.8%). The highest number of cases were reported in Jeonbuk, accounting for 34.4% of the total confirmed cases, followed by Gwangju (6,945 cases, 27.3%), Jeonnam (5,518 cases, 21.7%) and Jeju (4,222 cases, 16.6%). The main routes of infection were outbreaks among community clusters, including medical facilities and nursing homes (12,694 cases, 49.9%), and contact with confirmed cases (7,386 cases, 29.1%). There were 559 travel-related cases (2.3%), and the remaining cases were under investigation (4,737 cases, 18.6%). Foreigners constituted 10% of the total cases, of which 68.4% were male, and 73.3% were in their 20s and 30s.
  As the situation evolves along with newly available scientific evidence, continued analysis of epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 cases in the region will help the government adjust response strategies to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as prepare for future epidemics.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-03-03

  0 112 86

  Results of Emergency Department Based Injury In-depth Surveillance, 2019 and 2020

  Bona Hwang, Kwangyoung Jung, Sanghui Kweon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(9): 578-587

  

  

  Abstract

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  The Emergency Department Based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) is a survey monitoring project to identify risk factors for injury and produce basic data that can be used for injury prevention management projects by investigating the occurrence, treatment process, and treatment results of emergency departments (EDs) of 23 hospitals. It is widely recognized that the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic has changed people's daily social activities and medical use environment and has also caused a decrease in the number of injured patients admitted to the ED. Accordingly, this study observed the change in patient type using data from the EDIIS of 2019 and 2020.
  The total number of injured patients was 206,887 in 2020, which was 74.6% of the number of patients in 2019, but there was no significant difference in distribution by gender and age. However, the hospitalization rate and mortality rate indicating the number of inpatients and deaths among visiting patients were found to have slightly increased (13.0% and 0.9% in 2019; 15.3% and 1.2% in 2020, respectively). Furthermore, the number of patients due to injury caused by an unintentional accident and violence or homicide decreased. However, there was little difference in the number of patients of attempted suicide or self-harm (10,226 in 2019 and 10,272 in 2020). Regardless of the year, the proportion of patients was high in the order of sliding, blunt force trauma, and injury caused by traffic accidents. Among the places where injury occurred, houses ranked first regardless of the year, but the relative proportion increased from 41.0% in 2019 to 46.0% in 2020.
  According to the EDIIS, the decrease in the total number of injured patients in 2020 may have been affected by both the reduction in injury and restrictions on medical use, but overall, it is necessary to observe whether the pandemic continues in 2021.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-03-03

  0 542 105

  Research on Biomarkers Related to Environmentally Hazardous Substances based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)

  Sun-Ja Kim, Kyungwon Oh

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(9): 588-593

  Abstract

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  This study was conducted for the purpose of identifying the level of biomarkers of environmental hazardous substances in connection with the indoor air quality survey based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The subjects of analysis were 1,968 household members aged 19 or older, who participated in an indoor air quality survey during the National Health and Nutrition Survey from July 2020 to August 2021, of which the primary analysis of 1,034 participants from July 2020 to March 2021 was completed. Analysis items had high specificity among various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) frequently exposed in the indoor environment; exposure level, toxicity, and differentiation from other domestic surveys. International comparisons were also taken into consideration. There were nine biomarkers such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, styrene, xylene, acrolein, 1-bromopropane, and 1,3-butadiene. The analysis method optimized the US CDC NHANES analysis method for each process by comparing and reviewing domestic and foreign recognized methods, and was verified through precision, accuracy, standard material evaluation, and quality control. As a result of analyzing the biomarkers of VOCs in urine, the geometric mean concentrations were SPMA 0.89 μg/L, BMA 6.30 μg/L, PGA 213.35 μg/L, MA 166.27 μg/L, 2-MHA 20.46 μg/L, 3,4-MHA 105.59 μg/L, 3-HPMA 505.49 μg/L, BPMA 38.05 μg/L, and DHBMA 259.00 μg/L. Although domestic and foreign comparisons were limited in analysis, BMA, 2-MHA, PGA, MA, and DHBMA were at similar levels with those of the US CDC NHANES, but there were differences in other items. As of February 2022, cross-validation of the analysis method and additional analysis of 934 people are in progress, and the final analysis result will be announced along with the indoor air quality survey results in December 2022 after expert review.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2022-03-03

  0 81 67

  Trends in prevalence of chronic kidney disease, 2011-2020

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(9): 594-595

  

  

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