39,982 First Dose Vaccinations the Previous Day... Cumulative Total 3,662,587

7.1% of Total Population Vaccinated
Temporary Vaccine Supply Imbalance
Compared to Last Week's Record High Vaccinations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] As of the 7th, the number of people who received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine increased by about 39,000, reaching a total of 3,662,587. This corresponds to a vaccination rate of 7.1% of the population. This contrasts with last week, when a temporary imbalance in vaccine supply led to a record high in vaccinations since the start of the campaign.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Promotion Team) on the 8th, the number of new vaccine recipients on the previous day was 38,982. Among them, 29,525 received the AstraZeneca vaccine and 9,457 received the Pfizer vaccine.

Even excluding weekends and holidays this week, the average daily number of new vaccinations has been between 40,000 and 60,000, showing a different trend compared to last week. On the 30th of last month, 259,018 people were vaccinated in a single day.

This temporary slowdown in the first-dose vaccination speed for both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines is due to a temporary imbalance in vaccine supply. The cumulative number of first-dose recipients exceeded 3 million on the 29th of last month, 62 days after the start of domestic vaccinations, and then increased rapidly as vaccination centers and entrusted medical institutions expanded. The vaccination rate compared to the total population (51,349,116) is 7.1%.

During this period, the number of people who completed the second dose corresponds to 0.9% of the total population, totaling 473,1994. The combined total of first and second doses is 4,136,581. Looking at the vaccination progress by vaccine type, among 2,616,847 AstraZeneca vaccine recipients, 2,004,716 (76.6%) have completed the first dose, and among 3,728,223 Pfizer vaccine recipients, 1,657,871 (44.5%) have completed the first dose. The second-dose vaccination rates are 0.03% (722 cumulative) for AstraZeneca and 12.7% (473,272 cumulative) for Pfizer, with Pfizer vaccinations progressing faster.

By vaccination institution, the vaccination rate is highest at 81.9% for public health centers and self-administered vaccinations, which include nursing hospitals/facilities, hospital-level or higher medical institutions, and vulnerable facilities. Vaccination centers and entrusted medical institutions have rates of 44.5% and 70.4%, respectively. By target group, the first-dose vaccination rate for seniors aged 75 and older, who began vaccination on the 1st of last month, is 41.5%, and the vaccination rate for elderly facility users, residents, and workers is 84.9%. The rates of those who completed the second dose among these groups are 9.7% and 42.7%, respectively. The vaccination rate for nursing hospital inpatients and workers aged 65 and older, who started vaccination on March 23, is 76.6%, and for nursing facility residents and workers aged 65 and older, it is 80.4%.

Additionally, the vaccination rate for disabled persons, elderly, veterans care workers, and flight attendants who began vaccination on the 19th of last month is 71.7%. The vaccination rates for essential social workers (police, firefighters, etc.) and healthcare workers, who started vaccination on the 26th of last month, are 80.4% and 62.4%, respectively. Chronic kidney disease patients, who also began vaccination on the same day, show a vaccination rate of 46.2%. The number of other entrusted medical institution recipients, including those vaccinated from the standby list using so-called 'no-show vaccines,' increased by 7,120 in one day to a total of 59,261.

AstraZeneca vaccine administration began on February 26 for nursing hospital and nursing facility inpatients and residents under 65 years old and workers, and has since expanded to include COVID-19 first responders, hospital-level or higher medical institution workers, and others. Medical institution and pharmacy workers, chronic kidney disease patients, essential social workers (police, firefighters, etc.), and military personnel also receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Starting from the 27th of this month, AstraZeneca vaccinations will begin for seniors aged 65 to 74. Following that, from the 7th of next month, vaccinations will be administered to seniors aged 60 to 64, patients with chronic severe respiratory diseases, and teachers of kindergarten, daycare centers, and lower grades (1st?2nd grade) of elementary school aged 30 and older. As of the previous day, the pre-registration rates for vaccination among seniors aged 65 to 74 and patients with chronic severe respiratory diseases, whose registration began on the 6th, were 23.4% and 20.1%, respectively.

For the Pfizer vaccine, vaccinations began on February 27 for COVID-19 treatment hospital workers, and second doses have been administered since March 20. Since last month, Pfizer vaccines have also been administered to seniors aged 75 and older. Essential social workers and military personnel under 30, who were excluded from AstraZeneca vaccination due to concerns about 'rare thrombosis,' will receive the Pfizer vaccine starting next month.

Both vaccines require two doses. The AstraZeneca vaccine recommends a second dose interval of 11 to 12 weeks, while the Pfizer vaccine recommends a 3-week interval between doses.

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