[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Military to Advance COVID Vaccination Schedule

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As new coronavirus (COVID-19) cluster infections continue within the military, military authorities have decided to advance the vaccination schedule for the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine.

According to the military on the 26th, Defense Minister Seo Wook held a meeting at 5 p.m. with the Chiefs of Staff of each branch, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Commander of the Armed Forces Medical Command to move the vaccination schedule forward within this month. Earlier, Army Chief of Staff Nam Young-shin planned to hold meetings with the Army Deputy Chiefs and Corps Commanders to prepare countermeasures.

Originally, the military planned to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine in early May, but due to concerns over the possibility of 'rare thrombosis,' those under 30 years old were excluded from the vaccination target, and preparations were made for the possibility of changing the vaccine type. A total of approximately 581,000 military personnel were scheduled to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine in the second quarter, of which about 450,000 are under 30 years old. This accounts for 77.5% of the total military personnel.

Some suggest that from the second half of the year, the AstraZeneca vaccine may be replaced with another type. Military personnel were scheduled to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine at military hospitals near their respective units, but in the case of Pfizer, which requires storage and transportation at ultra-low temperatures, transportation to units nationwide could be complicated. Additionally, since the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses over a period of time, there are various constraints if soldiers have to visit vaccination centers themselves.

Ultimately, along with the overall government vaccination schedule, the final decision on whether to change the vaccine type for military personnel will depend on future vaccine supply conditions.

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