Authorities: "The Most Effective Current Prevention Is the Third Dose"... Omicron Vaccine Introduction Under Review

On the 11th, a notice for the 3rd COVID-19 vaccination was installed at Jayang Intersection in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As Pfizer, Moderna, and others announced plans to release updated vaccines targeting the Omicron COVID-19 variant, our quarantine authorities have expressed their intention to focus primarily on the third dose vaccination for now. The third dose has shown considerable effectiveness not only against the Delta variant but also the Omicron variant, and since there is still a significant amount of time before the actual release, they emphasize a cautious approach rather than making hasty decisions.

On the afternoon of the 11th, Hong Jung-ik, head of the Vaccination Management Team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, responded to a question about the necessity of an Omicron-specific vaccine during a COVID-19 briefing, stating, "Currently, the most effective vaccine to preemptively prepare for and respond to the spread of Delta and Omicron variants in South Korea is the mRNA third dose vaccination." He added, "Whether an Omicron-specific vaccine is necessary depends on when and how the Omicron wave progresses and when the vaccine can be supplied to us." Although Pfizer announced plans to release an Omicron vaccine in March, the actual production and domestic introduction timeline remain uncertain, and it is difficult to predict the epidemic situation at that time.

Hong explained, "The third dose is effective against the Delta variant and also shows sufficient efficacy against the emerging Omicron variant," adding, "If many people receive the third dose, it may reach a state where an Omicron-specific vaccine is not needed." However, he noted, "The possibility that the third dose's lasting effect against Omicron may not be long is related to the duration of the third dose's effectiveness," and stated that if scientific evidence arises indicating the need for a new vaccination, an Omicron-specific vaccine might become necessary. He emphasized that this will be continuously reviewed.

As of midnight on the same day, the third dose vaccination rate stood at 41.8%, with about half of those who completed the second dose having received the third dose. The response team stated that, unlike the first and second doses, they will not set specific targets for the number of people to be vaccinated or the vaccination rate for the third dose. Hong said, "There is no target number of vaccinations; those who have completed the second dose become eligible for the third dose after three months, and we plan to encourage vaccination through both overall and individual guidance." He added, "More than 40 million people who have received the second dose will all be able to receive the third dose." He further explained, "If many people receive the third dose before Lunar New Year, we have the infrastructure and vaccines ready to vaccinate over 40 million people."

On the 31st of last month (local time), Sharon Tabib received the 4th dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, western Israel, and took a selfie with a nurse.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the authorities are currently considering a fourth dose for high-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals. Hong stated, "Once a certain amount of evidence is collected and accumulated, we plan to proceed through expert consultations and deliberations by the Vaccination Expert Committee." However, since it is not an urgent matter yet, the focus will remain on the third dose. Hong explained, "We are still in the stage of monitoring foreign trends and domestic and international research results to gather evidence," adding, "Even applying Israel’s four-month interval after the third dose, the earliest people who received the third dose can get the fourth dose is in March, so the third dose must be prioritized first."

Regarding a question about whether there is a conflict between the quarantine authorities prioritizing the third dose and the Blue House advocating for the introduction of the fourth dose, following President Moon Jae-in’s statement the previous day urging a quick conclusion on expanding vaccinations for children and adolescents and a phased fourth dose, Hong firmly denied any difference in stance. He said, "There can be no difference in position," and added, "I understand it as a request to decide on the direction as soon as possible, regardless of the conclusion. We will utilize all available information to receive advice and review, and promptly set policy directions as before."

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