Third Dose Interval for 18+ Shortened to 3 Months... Vaccinations from the 15th (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the number of new COVID-19 cases has remained in the 7,000 range for three consecutive days, indicating an expanding scale of the outbreak, the government has decided to shorten the interval for the third vaccination dose to 3 months for those aged 18 and over.

The Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced on the 10th, "The currently recommended interval for the third dose, which is 4 to 5 months after completing the second dose, will be shortened to 3 months for all individuals aged 18 and above." This decision aims to proactively respond to the worsening domestic quarantine situation and the spread of the new Omicron variant by advancing the vaccination schedule for socially active age groups.

Accordingly, all citizens aged 18 and over who have reached the 3-month interval can make advance reservations starting from the 13th of this month, and vaccinations will be available from the 15th.

Until now, the recommended vaccination interval was 4 months for high-risk groups aged 60 and over and those aged 18 to 59, and 5 months for the general population aged 18 to 59. In cases of unavoidable personal circumstances such as overseas travel or medical treatment, or scheduled group vaccinations in infection-vulnerable facilities, or for those wishing to receive leftover vaccines, the interval could be shortened by one month to 3 months or 4 months respectively.

On the same day, Lee Gi-il, the 1st Controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, expressed concern, stating, "Vaccination for the elderly aged 60 and over is very important." He added, "As of today, the third dose vaccination rate for those aged 60 and over is 29.8%, with the rate for those aged 60 to 74 being only 14.9%." He explained, "83.8% of severe cases and 95.9% of deaths occur among the elderly aged 60 and over," and "about half of the critically ill and deceased aged 60 and over are breakthrough infection cases, while the other half are unvaccinated."

Lee emphasized, "Although unvaccinated elderly make up only 10%, they currently account for half of the critically ill and deceased elderly," and urged, "Since those aged 60 and over do not require separate advance reservations, please visit a nearby hospital and get vaccinated without fail." He added, "For the elderly aged 60 and over who have not completed the third dose, please refrain from gatherings and appointments as much as possible and avoid crowded places."

Meanwhile, according to the uniformly changed third dose interval, those whose vaccination interval has arrived can make reservations through the COVID-19 vaccination advance reservation website as before. Vaccination dates can be selected starting two days after the reservation date.

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