[Issue Q&A] Remaining Vaccines, Naver and Kakao Inquiry and Reservation Service Starting Tomorrow

Real-Time Notification Service Available for Remaining Vaccines
Excludes Vaccinated and Pre-Registered Individuals

Pfizer Operates Separate Standby List
Pre-Registration Expansion Planned for Vaccines Other Than AZ

On the 19th of last month, care teachers and caregivers among other professionals received vaccinations at Nasaret General Hospital in Dalseo-gu, Daegu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Lee Jeong-su (60), a volunteer at a vaccination center, rushed to the center on the 14th with a fellow volunteer after hearing that leftover doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine were available. However, unlike his colleague, Lee was unable to receive the vaccine. The problem was that he had already made a reservation for the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine as soon as the pre-booking started the day before. Those who have already made a vaccination reservation cannot receive leftover vaccines.

First-dose COVID-19 vaccinations, which had been temporarily paused for second doses, will resume from the 27th. From that day, a portal service will be introduced that allows easy checking and booking of leftover vaccines caused by cancellations or health issues of eligible recipients.

Q. How will the leftover vaccine application process change?

A. Until now, leftover AZ vaccine doses were applied for individually at entrusted medical institutions such as hospitals and clinics. Since each institution had different application methods, people had to call daily to check availability, causing inconvenience. However, from 1 PM on the 27th, leftover vaccine inquiry and reservation services will be available through portals like NAVER and Kakao. Similar to last year's public mask system, leftover vaccines can be viewed at a glance on a map and applied for all at once. You can also register up to five specific entrusted medical institutions to receive notifications when leftover vaccines become available.

Q. Can anyone apply for leftover vaccine doses?

A. Those who have already received at least one vaccine dose or have a pre-booking cannot apply. Since only AZ leftover vaccine reservations are currently possible, those under 30 years old, who have concerns about rare blood clots, cannot make reservations.

Otherwise, anyone can freely apply for leftover vaccines regardless of their registered residence. International students planning to leave the country can also receive vaccinations. However, it should be noted that for those planning to leave, the second dose will be administered 11 weeks later.

On the 15th of last month, elderly individuals aged 75 and over were waiting in the adverse reaction monitoring area after receiving the Pfizer vaccine at the vaccination center set up at Bukahyeon Cultural and Sports Center in Seodaemun-gu. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Q. Are there leftover Pfizer vaccine doses available?

A. Like the AZ vaccine, Pfizer vaccine vials contain six doses and must be used on the day they are opened, so leftover doses can occur. However, vaccination centers administering Pfizer vaccines do not accept applications from the general public but operate a separate standby list. Eligible groups include ▲ nearby residents aged 75 and older ▲ vaccination center staff ▲ community leaders such as district chiefs and volunteers supporting the center ▲ essential social workers such as firefighters, police, and coast guards under 30 years old excluded from AZ vaccination due to rare blood clot concerns.

Q. Even if other vaccines like Moderna arrive, will only AZ leftover vaccines be available?

A. The government plans to expand leftover vaccine reservation availability to vaccines other than AZ. Currently, Pfizer vaccines can only be administered at vaccination centers equipped with frozen storage and distribution facilities. The government plans to introduce a pre-booking system at vaccination centers in the future and will implement a leftover vaccine reservation system accordingly.

Additionally, aiming for July, the government is promoting the administration of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna at entrusted medical institutions, which is expected to make leftover vaccine vaccinations easier from that time onward.

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