Due to the spread of the Delta variant, the target vaccination rate may be raised above 70%... Government "Considering increase for herd immunity"

On the last day of the Liberation Day holiday, the 16th, a child is being tested at the temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Anseong Rest Area in the Seoul direction. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea remains uncontrolled due to the spread of the Delta variant and others, health authorities mentioned the need to consider raising the vaccination rate required for herd immunity to over 70%.

This is interpreted as being because the Delta variant, which has a higher transmissibility than the original virus, has already become dominant, and with new variants continuously emerging, it has become more important to vaccinate more people more quickly.

Kim Ki-nam, Head of the Vaccination Planning Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, stated at a regular briefing on the 16th, "The initial goal was to complete vaccination for over 70% of the entire population by November to achieve herd immunity." He added, "However, regarding the vaccination rate required for herd immunity, it is necessary to continuously review the target in light of changes in the situation such as the spread of the Delta variant and the reproduction number."

Kim said, "For now, the primary goal is to achieve the 70% vaccination rate early, and after that, the required vaccination rate for herd immunity will be reviewed additionally considering factors such as variant viruses."

Earlier, President Moon Jae-in mentioned, "By October, 70% of the entire population will have completed the second dose, and the target vaccination rate will be raised further." Currently, the government aims to complete the first dose for 36 million people, which is 70% of the population, by September 19, just before the Chuseok holiday, and to complete vaccination for 70% of the population by the end of October, six weeks later.

As the Delta variant has become dominant and its spread has intensified recently, domestic and international experts have repeatedly emphasized the need to raise the vaccination rate. Professor Chun Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "It has been proven that achieving herd immunity is difficult in countries like the UK, where the vaccination rate is much higher than in South Korea," adding, "Since the current 70% vaccination target was established before the Delta variant outbreak, the vaccination target should be raised reflecting the changed epidemic situation, and the quarantine system should be transformed."

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