Janssen Booster Shots Start Today... Shortening Interval from 6 Months to 5 Months Is 'Under Review'

On the 8th, when the additional COVID-19 vaccination (booster shot) began for Janssen vaccine recipients and inpatients, residents, and workers of nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, a Janssen vaccine recipient is receiving a booster shot at Yonsei With ENT Clinic in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Starting from the 8th, additional vaccinations (booster shots) for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine recipients have begun.

Hong Jeong-ik, head of the Vaccination Management Team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Group, stated at the Central Disease Control Headquarters briefing held on the afternoon of the 8th, "From today, additional vaccinations for Janssen vaccine recipients have started." Regarding this, Hong explained, "Janssen is a vaccine characterized by completion with a single dose, but breakthrough infections among recipients are increasing compared to other vaccines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have authorized vaccination two months after the initial dose. Considering breakthrough infections in Korea and that most recipients are young and highly active, it was decided to administer the additional dose after two months."

Accordingly, as of this day, 735,771 people have applied for Janssen booster shot reservations, which began on the 28th of last month. As of midnight today, a total of 1,489,493 people have received the Janssen vaccine. By September 7, two months ago, the cumulative number of Janssen vaccine recipients was 1,317,651, of which 55.8% have started additional vaccinations. Additionally, from the 1st of this month, leftover vaccines can be administered through medical institution standby lists, and same-day rapid reservation services via social networking services (SNS) are expected to be introduced around mid-month.

Moderna, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines (from left)
[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Vaccinations for these individuals are basically carried out at entrusted medical institutions using messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines. Among these, Moderna is primarily used, but Pfizer vaccination is also possible depending on the medical institution's situation and the individual's preference. When vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, the dose administered is half the basic dose, 25㎖. Accordingly, the antigen amount is reduced to 50㎍, about half the usual level. Those aged 30 and above who wish to receive a Janssen booster can check with public health centers for institutions offering Janssen vaccination and get vaccinated there.

Starting from the 10th, additional vaccinations will also be conducted for workers and inpatients in long-term care hospitals. Although the booster interval is generally six months after completing the basic vaccination, due to recent frequent cluster infections in group facilities such as long-term care hospitals, authorities have decided to advance the vaccination interval by four weeks for these groups. Regarding this, Park Hyang, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters' quarantine general team, explained this morning, "We observed that immunity significantly decreases around four to five months after vaccination."

Previously, the Clalit Research Institute in Israel and a research team from Harvard University in the U.S. announced research results showing that additional vaccinations for those who completed two doses of the Pfizer vaccine reduced hospitalization rates, severity, and mortality. Based on this, authorities are actively encouraging booster shots. Lee Yu-gyeong, head of the Vaccine Information Analysis Team at the Promotion Group, explained, "Booster recipients have a 93% lower risk of infection and complications, a 92% lower risk of severe illness, and about an 81% lower mortality rate compared to those who completed vaccination five months ago."

Regarding suggestions to shorten the booster interval from the current six months to five months for all additional vaccinations, including long-term care hospitals, due to increasing breakthrough infections and severe cases or deaths mainly among the elderly despite completed vaccinations, Hong said, "We are reviewing it." He added, "We are listening to experts and reviewing foreign data, but no schedule has been set for the Vaccination Expert Committee to adjust the vaccination interval. If evidence accumulates, we will actively consider and discuss advancing the interval by about a month."

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