No 'Vaccine Choice' in the Second Half... Authorities Say "Pre-Booking Opens Once Weekly Vaccine Is Decided" (Update)

"Method of Assigning Vaccines According to Recipients"

On the 16th, surpassing the initial target of 13 million people for the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and achieving it earlier than expected, police forces are administering vaccines at the COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The quarantine authorities reaffirmed their stance that it will be difficult to grant individuals the right to choose their COVID-19 vaccine even in the second half of the year, when the supply and variety of vaccines will expand.

On the 18th, Kim Ki-nam, Head of the Vaccination Planning Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "Although the variety of vaccines will diversify in the second half of the year, the plan is to operate by designating vaccines available for each target group rather than allowing individuals to select a specific vaccine."

Kim explained, "For those aged 18 to 40, from August, reservations will be accepted in weekly or biweekly intervals according to the types and quantities of vaccines arriving during that period. This cycle will continue from August to September, but since the types and quantities of vaccines arriving this week and next week have not been finalized, it is not a situation where individuals can directly choose a specific vaccine."

However, he added, "There are indirect or some exceptional cases where vaccine selection is possible, such as with leftover vaccines."

Additionally, regarding the temporary decision to administer the second dose with the Pfizer vaccine next month to those who received the first dose with the AstraZeneca vaccine in April, the authorities emphasized, "Domestic and international studies have generally shown no serious adverse reactions, and safety concerns have been reviewed as non-issues."

Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Clinical trials for administering the second dose with Pfizer after the first dose of AstraZeneca have already been conducted, with the last Pfizer second dose administered on the 11th. Furthermore, plans are underway to conduct commissioned research on heterologous vaccination using Moderna or other vaccines after the first AstraZeneca dose."

Regarding whether heterologous vaccination will be allowed after July, Kim said, "Plans after August will be further reviewed by analyzing the supply status of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines, domestic and international research results, and overseas cases."

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