Lowering AZ Vaccine Eligibility Age... Authorities Say "Subject to Change Based on Vaccine Supply and Epidemic Situation" (Update)

"Discussion Required Through Vaccination Expert Committee if Necessary"

On the 29th, citizens who completed their vaccinations were waiting to monitor any adverse reactions at the vaccination center set up at Bukahyeon Cultural and Sports Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The number of first-dose COVID-19 vaccine recipients in the country increased by 477,853 the previous day, reaching a total of 18,382,137. This accounts for 35.8% of the total population. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Amid ongoing repercussions from delays in Moderna vaccine supply, health authorities have stated that the recommended vaccination age for the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, currently advised for those aged 50 and above when necessary, may be subject to change. Additionally, the authorities reiterated that despite the supply difficulties with the Moderna vaccine, there is no problem in achieving the first-dose vaccination target of 70% of the population, or 36 million people, by September.

On the 10th, Kim Ki-nam, Head of the Vaccination Planning Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, said at a regular COVID-19 briefing, "Regarding the AZ vaccine, we have been recommending vaccination for those aged 50 and above since July, but this can change depending on the COVID-19 epidemic situation or vaccine supply status. If necessary, future decisions will require expert consultation or discussions by the Vaccination Expert Committee."

According to the task force, about 77,000 people received the AZ vaccine yesterday, combining both first and second doses. Among them, over 9,000 were vaccinated using leftover vaccines. Based on yesterday’s vaccination numbers alone, approximately 11% were additional vaccinations using leftover vaccines. Kim explained, "It is difficult to accurately tally the amount of leftover vaccines that are not used and discarded," adding, "To utilize leftover vaccines, the preliminary list of eligible recipients was expanded from chronic patients using entrusted medical institutions to those aged 60 and above, now including those aged 50 and above."

He continued, "From next week, those with prior reservations will also be able to book leftover vaccines via SNS," and added, "By enabling same-day reservations and vaccinations, we have facilitated the use of leftover vaccines."

Initially, the authorities set a goal to complete the first dose for 70% of the total population before Chuseok. However, concerns grew that this target might be jeopardized as the supply of the Moderna vaccine, one of the main vaccines, is expected to be less than half of the planned amount for August. Regarding this, Kim stated, "Although there are current difficulties due to changes in the Moderna vaccine supply schedule requiring adjustments to the vaccination plan, as announced yesterday, by extending the interval for the second dose of mRNA vaccines, combined with the scheduled supply of Pfizer vaccines and the use of other vaccines such as Moderna and Janssen, we plan to proceed with the existing vaccination plan without disruption."

He added, "However, the key issue is vaccine supply, and we will continue to make multifaceted efforts across the government, centered on the Vaccine Import Task Force."

Furthermore, with the extension of the mRNA vaccine dosing interval to up to six weeks, the authorities also stated that for those whose second-dose appointments were changed beyond six weeks, the schedule will be readjusted within the six-week range. Kim explained, "The Vaccination Expert Committee reviewed that while the principle dosing interval for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is 3 to 4 weeks according to approval, exceptions allowing extension up to 6 weeks can be made depending on vaccine supply, medical institution conditions, or individual circumstances. This is also recommended by international organizations such as the US CDC and WHO for exceptional cases, and this was taken into consideration in the decision."

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