Care Workers and Residents in Psychiatric Hospitals to Receive Booster Shots 5 Months Earlier (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government will promptly administer booster shots (additional vaccinations) to workers and residents of nursing and psychiatric hospitals as breakthrough infections have recently increased in these facilities. Booster shots will be given starting from 5 months after completing the initial vaccination series. Previously, booster shots were administered 6 months after the second dose, but this has been changed to allow administration as early as 4 weeks prior.

On the 3rd, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "From August until now, there have been 160 cluster outbreaks and a total of 2,424 confirmed cases in nursing hospitals, facilities, and psychiatric hospitals, with breakthrough infections continuing among those fully vaccinated. We have decided to promptly administer booster shots to workers and residents first."

Son added, "Some cities and provinces have already started this," and said, "Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines stored at vaccination centers will be prioritized for use to quickly implement booster shots at nursing and psychiatric hospitals (self-vaccination) and nursing facilities (visiting vaccination)."

Regardless of vaccination status or region, workers at nursing hospitals, facilities, and psychiatric hospitals will undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing once a week. Considering cluster outbreaks in the area, local governments may expand testing frequency up to twice a week. However, testing is exempted if 2 weeks have passed since the additional vaccination.

New patients and new workers must undergo PCR testing before admission or hiring, and workers who have completed vaccination are especially recommended for employment.

Regarding visits, contact visits are allowed only for vaccinated residents and visitors. Unvaccinated individuals may have contact visits only in urgent cases such as end-of-life situations, and must wear protective equipment such as KF94 (N95) masks. To prevent crowding, visits require prior reservation, and consumption of food and beverages is prohibited. Visit rules include checking for fever in patients and visitors and managing visitor logs.

Additionally, dedicated public officials assigned one-on-one to nursing hospitals will strengthen on-site inspections to ensure compliance with quarantine rules. Key inspection items include ▲checking vaccination status (reasons for non-vaccination) and encouraging vaccination ▲regular ventilation ▲indoor mask-wearing by vaccinated individuals ▲thorough reporting and early testing when symptomatic cases occur ▲PCR testing before admission for new workers (including patients). If confirmed cases arise due to non-compliance with quarantine rules, compensation or financial support may be restricted.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, "Together with local governments, we will disseminate and guide quarantine rules for nursing hospitals and facilities, encourage vaccination among unvaccinated workers, and promptly implement booster shots. We plan to thoroughly manage nursing hospitals and facilities to ensure their safe operation."

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