Pneumococcal vaccination rate drops due to COVID vaccination

Sales of vaccine manufacturers/importers have been hurt

Experts are also concerned

Compared to rate of inoculation in 2020, rate of inoculation decreased significantly in first quarter of 2021.

 

As COVID vaccinations begin in earnest, the inoculation rate of pneumococcal vaccines, which rose sharply last year, is decreasing.

 

In particular, it is difficult for health centers to be in charge of vaccination and the situation of clinics is the same.

 

As a result, related pharmaceutical companies also have a significant impact on sales decline due to a decrease in inoculation rates.

 

According to the KDCA and the pharmaceutical industry on the 17th, the vaccination rate of pneumonia groups, which has steadily increased in recent years, has been falling significantly since the first quarter of this year.

 

In fact, looking at the NIP (National Immunization Program) computer registration status announced by The KDCA over the past three years, NIP pneumococcal vaccinations for senior citizens aged 65 or older have risen every year to ▲283,687 in 2018, ▲580,793 in 2019, ▲839,461 in 2020.

 

As of the first quarter of last year, the number of vaccinations decreased by nearly half from 145,796 in 2019 to 74,285 in 2020, but the inoculation rate also increased significantly as pneumococcal vaccinations were available at outside health centers from the second quarter.

 

In particular, concerns about pneumonia, a major complication of COVID-19 infection, spread ahead of the flu epidemic, with a total inoculation rate of 414,596 cases in the third quarter alone, higher than the overall inoculation rate in 2018.

 

However, this year, the rate of vaccination in the first quarter is again lower than previous years due to COVID-19 vaccination.

 

The number of pneumococcal vaccinations in the first quarter of this year was 112,860, down from 145,796 in the first quarter of 2019, before COVID-19 outbreak.

 

This is not NIP, but it was also confirmed by sales of 13 pneumococcal vaccines.

 

According to the drug research firm IQVIA, Pfizer's pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar 13's sales in the first quarter of this year were ₩9.4 billion, down 46.7% from ₩17.6 billion in the first quarter of last year.

 

Compared to the third quarter and ₩24.2 billion, which recorded the highest sales last year, sales declined by nearly 60%, and overall pneumococcal vaccinations decreased regardless of NIP.

 

"The vaccination rate for pneumococcal vaccines has decreased a lot compared to previous years," said physician at a clinic.

 

"We believe that the inoculation rate has decreased because the number of patients visiting the hospital is small and patients are not considered a priority." "There are also cases where patients who are vaccinated against corona do not think they need to get a pneumococcal vaccine," he said.

 

"I'm not sure if we can increase the vaccination rate under the current situation." Prevenar 13's sales were ₩81.3 billion over the year.

 

As it recorded 64.8% growth compared to 2019, its current low sales performance in first quarter could lead to reverse growth in 2021.

 

"For pharmaceutical companies that have consistently emphasized the need for pneumococcal vaccinations, the decrease in inoculation rate is of course very upsetting," a pharmaceutical industry official said.

 

"In particular, sales fell nearly half as of the same quarter last year." In this regard, experts stressed the need to share COVID-19 vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination separately from the concerns of pharmaceutical companies.

 

"The basic principle is that vaccination of COVID-19 vaccines should not destroy the existing vaccination system.

 

"I agree with the need for pneumococcal vaccinations, but the rate may rise as last year," said an official from the Korean association of internal medicine.

 

"Pneumonia is one of the major causes of death, so the government needs to vaccinate and make efforts."