Authorities: "Only 60% of 18-49 Age Group Have Made Vaccination Reservations... Please Participate for Your Health"

Medical staff are administering vaccines at the Dongjak-gu Citizens' Sports Center, where the COVID-19 vaccination center in Dongjak-gu, Seoul is set up.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chunhee] Health authorities urged more people to make reservations for COVID-19 vaccinations for those aged 18 to 49, noting that the pre-reservation rate, which began on the 9th, is low at around 60%.

Son Youngrae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the COVID-19 briefing on the 12th, "The reservation rate for the two days of booking is 60%, somewhat below the overall target of 70%. This is lower than the 80% reservation rate seen among the elderly. For your own health and everyone's safety, we ask as many people as possible to participate in making reservations."

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, as of midnight on the 11th, among 3,073,984 pre-reservation eligible individuals whose birthdates end in 9 or 0, 1,666,018 had completed reservations. This corresponds to a reservation rate of only 54.2%. Despite additional reservations for those born on the 10th, 20th, and 30th continuing until 6 p.m. on the 11th, the rate only rose to about 60%. Son said, "I do not know the exact reason whether the reservation rate is low because there are later dates available for booking," but added, "The actual reservation rate is lower than the willingness to reserve identified in various surveys, so we ask for many more reservations."

Regarding the elderly aged 60 to 74, Son said, "Originally, a booster shot opportunity was planned for October, but due to the recent severe COVID-19 outbreak, reservations for AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccinations at 8-week intervals are now allowed," and urged, "Please actively make vaccination reservations."

Son also stated, "The possibility of breakthrough infections with the Delta variant is low, and vaccination has a significant effect on reducing fatality rates and severe or critical cases," and added, "We strongly encourage unvaccinated elderly individuals to actively make vaccination reservations."

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