Will the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine be administered using the first dose supply?

On the 4th, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations were administered to medical staff in a lecture room at Seoul National University Children's Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The quarantine authorities are set to intensify discussions on utilizing the first-dose supply of COVID-19 vaccines originally allocated for the second dose.

Yang Donggyo, head of the Resource Management Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, stated during a COVID-19 vaccine briefing on the 10th, "It is possible to consider early use of the second-dose supply within the range that does not affect the second dose."

Yang explained, "We are allocating two doses per person in case the second-dose supply does not arrive domestically," but added, "If the second-dose supply has already arrived or its arrival schedule is clear, we will not wait until the new vaccines arrive." He further noted, "We are in the final stages of coordinating the vaccination plan to efficiently use the vaccines already secured and those that have arrived domestically."

The quarantine authorities plan to extend the dosing interval for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to 8 to 12 weeks. Previously, the government maintained an 8-week interval between the first and second doses of this vaccine. This also appears to be a measure related to the early use of the second-dose supply.

Regarding this, Yang said, "Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended a 12-week interval, and studies have shown that an 8 to 12-week interval is more beneficial for immune formation than 4 weeks," adding, "The Vaccination Expert Committee is currently establishing a vaccination plan based on an 8 to 12-week interval."

The quarantine authorities will hold a Vaccination Expert Committee meeting at 3 p.m. today to decide whether to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for the elderly aged 65 and over. The results of the meeting will be announced on the morning of the 11th.

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