Vaccination with AstraZeneca for 65+ at Long-term Care Hospitals and Facilities... Consent Survey for Migration (Update)

Interval Between 1st and 2nd Doses 8-12 Weeks... Vaccination Plan for Q2 to Be Announced on the 15th

On the 9th, contact visits to nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, which had been restricted due to the risk of COVID-19 infection, became possible. At Gaeunmyeongwon in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, Lee Yong-beom is visiting his mother, Son Yong-chang. Contact visits are allowed only if the guardian of a patient or resident who is terminally ill, or a severely ill patient, tests negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours prior to the visit. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Elderly individuals aged 65 and older in long-term care hospitals and facilities, whose vaccinations begin this month, will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

On the 11th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, "The Vaccination Expert Committee held yesterday decided to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 65 and older," adding, "Vaccinations are planned for approximately 376,000 inpatients, residents, and workers aged 65 and older in long-term care hospitals and facilities this month."

Deputy Head Kwon said, "Considering clinical trial results that show increased effectiveness with a longer interval between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, we have decided to change the second dose reservation date from 8 weeks after the first dose to 10 weeks."

Previously, the Vaccination Expert Committee changed the second dose reservation date for the AstraZeneca vaccine from 8 weeks to 10 weeks. Accordingly, those who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be guided to receive the second dose 10 weeks later.

The authorities explained, "Since the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an 8 to 12-week interval for the AstraZeneca vaccine, vaccinations can be administered within this interval domestically as well," adding, "However, the reservation date was not set at 12 weeks because it could cause restrictions when changing the reservation date if necessary."

The policy is to make reservations based on 10 weeks, but individuals can change their vaccination date within a 2-week window before or after, depending on their health condition.

The authorities will conduct a survey this week on consent for vaccination among inpatients and residents aged 65 and older in long-term care hospitals and facilities. The survey will be completed by next week, and vaccines will be allocated to those who consent to vaccination to carry out the immunization.

The second quarter vaccination plan will be announced on the 15th, reflecting the results of the Vaccination Expert Committee meeting held the day before.

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