Authorities: "3rd Dose Does Not Have to Be Exactly After 3 Months... 'Minimum Interval' Only Set"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the interval for the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination for adults aged 18 and over has been shortened to 3 months, health authorities explained that this reduction in the vaccination interval is merely a preventive measure to set the minimum period required to achieve sufficient effectiveness, and that the vaccine's effectiveness does not sharply decline if the interval is extended beyond this period.

Hong Jeong-ik, head of the Vaccination Management Team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, stated, "The shortening of the third dose interval is a standard indicating when you can start receiving the vaccination," adding, "Those who want to get vaccinated earlier can do so from 3 months onward, and they can receive the vaccination at their preferred time through reservation or walk-in according to their schedule."

On this day, health authorities announced that the recommended interval for the third dose, currently advised to be 4 to 5 months after the second dose, will be shortened to 3 months for all adults aged 18 and over. However, for Janssen vaccine recipients and immunocompromised individuals, the 2-month interval will be maintained. This decision was made after deliberation by the Vaccination Expert Committee the previous day, aiming to suppress the COVID-19 outbreak by rapidly administering the third dose to socially active age groups amid the worsening domestic epidemic situation.

Health authorities evaluated that as of midnight on the same day, the number of new confirmed cases was 7,022, maintaining the 7,000 range for several days, while the number of severe cases hospitalized was 852 and the previous day's death toll was 53, indicating a rapid increase in patients. Furthermore, with the introduction of the Omicron variant, the UK expanded the third dose eligibility to those aged 18 and over and shortened the interval to 3 months. In addition to the UK, Greece also shortened the third dose interval to 3 months for adults starting from the 3rd of this month.

A Janssen vaccine recipient is receiving a booster shot at Yonsei With ENT Clinic in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding the effect of this shortened vaccination interval, health authorities emphasized that it simply allows vaccination at a chosen point when immunity begins to wane after vaccination, and that preventive effects can still be achieved even if vaccinated after 3 months. Hong Jeong-ik said, "Some may think that something terrible will happen if they don't get vaccinated at 3 months," and stressed, "We ask that you get vaccinated by 6 months at the latest; vaccination can be done anytime after 3 months."

He explained, "The booster is not given because the effect disappears exactly at 3 months," but rather, "It serves to raise the effectiveness again by vaccinating at a certain point when immunity is declining." He added, "Even if the third dose is given after the vaccine's effectiveness has completely waned, it still has an effect," but noted, "The period between 5 to 6 months is a high-risk time for infection, so it is important to coordinate the timing of infection risk and the booster vaccination." The explanation was that the booster effect is sufficient and safety is not an issue from 3 months onward, which is why the minimum vaccination interval was shortened.

Regarding safety, Hong emphasized, "There is no scientific evidence that adverse reactions increase," and assured that the vaccine is sufficiently safe. He said, "Data released from the UK showed no safety issues for vaccinations given after 70 or 84 days," and added, "Even among those who received vaccinations outside the recommended interval due to misadministration, no significant increase in adverse reactions has been observed."

Pre-booking for those affected by the change in vaccination interval will begin at midnight on the 13th. It will be conducted through the COVID-19 vaccination pre-booking website, following the existing method. Vaccination dates can be selected starting two days after the reservation date. Additionally, leftover vaccine vaccinations using social networking services (SNS) such as Naver and Kakao or medical institution standby lists will also be available from the same day.

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