"Do We Really Need the Booster Shot?" Rising Breakthrough Infections and Vaccine Distrust Debate...

Increase in Breakthrough Infections Leads Citizens to Question "Ineffective Vaccines, Is the Booster Shot Really Necessary?"
Health Authorities State "Vaccines Proven to Significantly Reduce Severe Cases and Deaths... Please Get Vaccinated"

On the afternoon of the 12th, medical staff and hospital workers at the Central Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Seoul are receiving a booster shot as an additional vaccination for those who have completed their initial vaccine doses. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] As cases of breakthrough infections continue to rise despite full vaccination, doubts about the effectiveness of vaccines are emerging among citizens. Experts are recommending booster shots to reduce the risk of severe illness and death.

According to the quarantine authorities on the 11th, as of the 31st of last month, among 33,108,428 fully vaccinated people in the country, 28,293 (0.086%) are suspected of having breakthrough infections. This means that 88.5 out of every 100,000 vaccinated individuals are suspected of breakthrough infections. The suspected breakthrough infection cases have been gradually increasing as follows: △April (2) △May (7) △June (116) △July (1,180) △August (2,764) △September (8,913) △October (15,311).

In response, the quarantine authorities analyzed that breakthrough infections are occurring mainly among the elderly who have completed vaccination.

Kwon Deok-cheol, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the same day, "The elderly aged 60 and over who completed vaccination in the first half of this year are experiencing a weakening of vaccine effectiveness over time, leading to the spread of breakthrough infections. Elderly people with underlying diseases and caregivers live in group settings, making nursing hospitals and nursing facilities, which are the most vulnerable in terms of quarantine, a major problem for cluster infections."

He added, "We will do our best in additional vaccinations and quarantine management, and ask the public to actively cooperate so that daily life recovery can continue. Please participate in additional vaccinations and follow basic quarantine rules."

Concerns among citizens are growing. One netizen questioned in a comment, "There are many side effects, so why should we get vaccines that don't work?" Another netizen lamented, "At first, they said two shots were enough, so does that mean we have to get vaccinated for life?"

On the afternoon of the 8th, when the additional vaccination (booster shot) for Janssen vaccine recipients began, a citizen visiting a hospital in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, received a booster shot. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, the government is repeatedly emphasizing the importance of vaccination. According to the quarantine authorities, an analysis of about 260,000 confirmed cases from April 3 to the 30th of last month showed that the severe case rate among unvaccinated individuals was 2.93%, compared to 0.56% among fully vaccinated individuals. The fatality rate was also 0.6% for unvaccinated and 0.12% for fully vaccinated individuals, indicating that the occurrence of severe cases and deaths was more than five times higher among the unvaccinated.

Park Hyang, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a regular briefing on the 8th, "Since it has been proven that vaccination significantly reduces severe illness and death, unvaccinated individuals must participate in vaccination for their own health, their families' safety, and for society as a whole."

Experts also recommend vaccination to reduce the risk of severe illness and death. Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital said on his Facebook on the 24th of last month, "COVID-19 intensive care units are filled with unvaccinated patients. The progress of fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated patients differs significantly after 2 to 3 days of hospitalization," adding, "Even though the pathogenicity of the Delta variant has increased, the rate of severe cases among vaccinated individuals is significantly lower," encouraging vaccination.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Jeong Eun-kyeong, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, forecasted that the number of severe cases might increase significantly, making it difficult to transition to the second phase of gradual daily recovery. At a plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, Commissioner Jeong responded to a question from Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking, "Is it difficult to smoothly move to phase 2 given the current increase in confirmed cases?" by saying, "Yes. If the current situation continues, we may maintain phase 1 or strengthen quarantine measures."

She added, "We are closely monitoring the increase in severe cases, and since it has only been about 10 days since phase 1 of daily recovery was implemented, we will review the progress and consider the transition or measures accordingly."

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