Government: "Vaccination for Under 30s Adjusted According to Supply Situation"

On the 2nd, a medical staff member at Mapo-gu Public Health Center in Seoul is busy filling syringes with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ahead of vaccination for health and medical organization leaders. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The government announced on the 11th that the vaccination plan for those under 30, who were excluded from AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine recipients, will be readjusted depending on the supply situation.

At a regular briefing on the same day, Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, explained in response to related questions, "For those under 30, it is necessary to supplement the plan regarding which vaccine to administer and when, depending on the vaccine supply and import situation."

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, the temporarily postponed and suspended AZ vaccine inoculations will resume on the 12th. However, those under 30 are excluded from the AZ vaccine recipients. It was judged that for those under 30, the benefits of vaccination do not outweigh the risks of rare thrombosis that may be induced by the vaccine. The UK also recommends other vaccines for those under 30 without underlying conditions based on the same analytical approach.

Jeong said, "We are in discussions to introduce vaccines such as Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) and Novavax, and we are negotiating to receive Pfizer vaccines earlier," adding, "Since the fatality rate is lower and progression to severe illness is less common among younger people, their vaccination priority is somewhat lower." She continued, "We will readjust the vaccination plan considering vaccine supply conditions and vaccination priorities."

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