"COVID-19 Infection After Second Pfizer Vaccine Dose"…First Breakthrough Infection Confirmed Domestically (Update)

Medical Workers in Their 20s Living in Yeongnam... Infected in May After Vaccination in March and April

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] One case of 'breakthrough infection' has been confirmed in South Korea after completing COVID-19 vaccination. This is the first case confirmed domestically.

Park Young-jun, head of the Adverse Reaction Investigation Support Team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, stated at a regular briefing on the 21st, "Among the cases vaccinated domestically, one case met the definition of breakthrough infection," adding, "It is a case confirmed 14 days after the second dose."

The infected individual is a medical worker in their 20s residing in the Yeongnam region, who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine in March and April. It is presumed that the infection occurred during a family gathering on Parents' Day in early May, about a month later. However, it is known that there are no particular issues with their current health condition.

Park explained, "Breakthrough infections are expected to continue to appear, but there are research results suggesting that the severity and impact on secondary transmission may differ," adding, "We plan to continue monitoring these aspects."

He also emphasized again, "Even if two doses have been completed, infection can rarely occur, so it is still necessary to comply with quarantine guidelines."

Previously, there was also a case of a man in his 30s who completed the Sputnik V vaccination in Russia and was confirmed infected in South Korea. However, the health authorities did not definitively classify it as a breakthrough infection because, although the confirmation was after 14 days from the second dose, there was a possibility of virus exposure before the 14-day period had elapsed.

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