If You Don't Get a Booster Shot, Can't You Go to the Gym... "Considering Introduction of Validity Period for Quarantine Pass"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The 'quarantine pass (vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation)' currently available upon completion of the basic COVID-19 vaccination is expected to become invalid after a certain period if the additional booster shot is not received. This is because, as research results continue to show a decline in immunity after vaccination, authorities have begun considering setting an expiration period for the quarantine pass.

On the afternoon of the 22nd, Jeong Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "Experts recently suggested that considering the increase in infections due to declining immunity, it is necessary to review setting an expiration period for the quarantine pass," adding, "The government plans to review this internally."

At the previous day's meeting of the Daily Recovery Support Committee's Medical and Quarantine Subcommittee, opinions were presented that, given the rapidly worsening quarantine indicators, it is necessary to strengthen quarantine measures such as setting an expiration period for the vaccination-based quarantine pass. In particular, since the booster shot period has been moved up to 4 months, it is necessary to set the validity period accordingly. Commissioner Jeong cited examples, saying, "Different countries set the quarantine pass validity period at around 6 to 9 months, which is the duration immunity is maintained, and countries like Israel link the booster shot to the quarantine pass."

Currently, quarantine authorities have introduced and are operating the quarantine pass for certain high-risk multi-use facilities. Only those who have passed 14 days after completing vaccination or have submitted a negative PCR test certificate can use entertainment facilities, indoor sports facilities, karaoke rooms, bathhouses, and the like.

She also hinted at actively introducing booster shots for those aged 18 to 49, which has not yet been finalized. Commissioner Jeong said, "Regarding booster shots for those aged 18 to 49, considering the current epidemic situation and the waning immunity over time, we see the need to expand booster shots to the entire group," adding, "We will make a decision as soon as possible and provide guidance on expanding booster shots."

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 an additional vaccination at Yonsei With ENT Clinic in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Along with this, the introduction of the quarantine pass for children and adolescents under 18 is also being discussed. Currently, children and adolescents can use facilities subject to the quarantine pass without submitting vaccination certificates or negative test confirmations, except for entertainment facilities where entry is fundamentally prohibited or high-risk patient visits.

Commissioner Jeong explained, "As the epidemic increases, confirmed cases among children and adolescents are also rising, and transmission occurs through multi-use facilities, acting as a vector to schools and homes," adding, "The need to apply the quarantine pass to children and adolescents is being raised." She further stated, "We are reviewing the facilities where the quarantine pass is currently applied," and "Discussions and reviews are underway with the Ministry of Education, local education offices, and related departments on whether to apply it to places like karaoke rooms and events where it is not currently applied."

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