The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations nationwide is surging, and the spread of new variants is causing a shortage of COVID-19 treatments in various regions.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations had been steadily decreasing since the first week of February (875 patients), but has been on the rise since the end of June. Notably, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations increased from 91 in the first week of July to 148 in the second week, 225 in the third week, 465 in the fourth week, and 861 in the first week of August. This represents a doubling in one week and a 9.5-fold increase compared to the first week of July.
In the medical field, there are concerns about shortages of oral treatments such as Pfizer’s “Paxlovid” and MSD’s “Lagevrio.” The weekly usage of these treatments has already surged 33-fold, from 1,272 doses in the fourth week of June to over 42,000 doses in the fifth week of July.
On the 11th, a representative from a university hospital stated, “We are experiencing a shortage of in-hospital prescriptions and are directing patients to nearby pharmacies, but many of them are also out of stock.”
In the pharmaceutical industry, there are calls to review the supply of antipyretics and increase treatment options in preparation for a resurgence of COVID-19.
Currently, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is reviewing the application for approval of the oral COVID-19 treatment “Zokova,” jointly developed by Ildong Pharmaceutical and Japan’s Shionogi Pharmaceutical.
“Zokova” was granted emergency approval in Japan in November 2022 and received formal approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in March this year.
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