16,313,96 People Aged 18 and Over Applied on the First Day of the 3rd Dose Pre-Reservation

Medical staff are organizing syringes containing the Moderna vaccine for additional vaccinations (booster shots). (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] As of 5 p.m. on the 13th, when advance reservations for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine began for adults aged 18 and over who completed their basic vaccination more than three months ago, approximately 1,631,000 people had applied.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team stated, "As of 5 p.m., 1,631,396 adults aged 18 to 59 who are 90 days past their second dose have made reservations for the third dose."

The government decided on the 10th to uniformly shorten the interval for the third vaccine dose to three months. Previously, high-risk groups such as seniors aged 60 and over and residents of infection-vulnerable facilities were recommended to receive the third dose four months after completion, and the general adult population aged 18 to 59 after five months; these intervals have been advanced by one to two months respectively.

However, immunocompromised individuals such as patients with acute leukemia, organ transplant recipients, HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infected patients, and those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, as well as Janssen vaccine recipients, are exceptions and can receive the additional dose starting two months after the basic vaccination.

Advance reservations can be made through the 'COVID-19 Vaccination Advance Reservation Website,' and the vaccination date can be selected from two days after the reservation date.

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