Jeonnam Province to Begin COVID-19 Vaccinations for Over 32,000 People Under 65 Starting the 26th

On the afternoon of the 9th, medical staff administered vaccines to training participants during a mock vaccination drill held at the Comprehensive Cancer Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 15th that starting from the 26th, COVID-19 vaccination will be administered to those under the age of 65.

The vaccines to be administered this time are AstraZeneca and Pfizer, with approximately 32,000 doses to be supplied.

The elderly aged 65 and over are excluded this time due to insufficient statistical data on vaccine efficacy and the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's opinion that "use in those aged 65 and over should be decided cautiously."

However, whether those aged 65 and over will be vaccinated will be finalized around the end of next month after additional clinical information on efficacy is confirmed and reviewed by the Vaccination Expert Committee.

The target population consists of about 58,040 people in total, including 14,690 workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, 11,890 workers at high-risk medical institutions (healthcare workers), 4,090 first responders to COVID-19, and 1,190 workers at COVID-19 treatment hospitals, totaling approximately 31,860 people, about 54.8%.

The AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered starting on the 26th to residents and workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, from the 8th of next month to healthcare workers at high-risk medical institutions, and from the 22nd to first responders to COVID-19.

Nursing hospitals and high-risk medical institutions will conduct vaccinations independently, while nursing facilities will implement visiting vaccinations considering residents with mobility difficulties; depending on circumstances, vaccinations can also be conducted at city or county health centers. First responders to COVID-19 can be vaccinated at city or county health centers.

The Pfizer vaccine provided to COVID-19 treatment hospitals will be delivered to infectious disease-dedicated hospitals and others to minimize COVID-19 gaps, with the principle of self-administration of vaccinations.

Medical institutions with a small number of vaccination targets will be vaccinated at regional vaccination centers, and the vaccination schedule may be flexible depending on supply conditions.

Kang Young-gu, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, "As COVID-19 vaccination begins on the 26th, we ask residents to participate in vaccination to form herd immunity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.