Breakthrough Infection Cases Not Needing Booster Shots... Will They Be Recognized After 90 or 180 Days Post-Vaccination?

Bang Daebon "Breakthrough infection if confirmed 14 days after 2nd or 3rd dose... Unvaccinated must complete 2 doses"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Individuals who have recovered from a COVID-19 breakthrough infection do not need to receive additional booster shots. This is because those who have completed the two primary vaccine doses and then become infected exhibit immune responses that are equivalent to or superior to those who have received a third dose.

Here, the criterion for breakthrough infection is based on whether the vaccine series has been completed. However, confusion has arisen recently because the quarantine exemption criteria for fully vaccinated individuals (within 90 days after completion) and the validity period of the vaccine pass (within 180 days after completion) differ, leading many to wonder if breakthrough infections only apply to those infected within 90 or 180 days after vaccination. The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) has provided clarifications on this matter.

First, the health authorities classify breakthrough infections into two categories: cases confirmed positive 14 days after the second dose, or cases confirmed positive 14 days after the third dose. These individuals receive vaccination certificates without an expiration date, and those who have completed only up to the second dose do not need to receive a booster shot. According to the CDCH, the 90-day and 180-day limits used for quarantine exemption and vaccine pass validity do not apply to the breakthrough infection criteria. Even if fourth or fifth additional doses are administered in the future, the breakthrough infection criterion will remain as ‘14 days after vaccination.’

However, for those who are unvaccinated or have only received the first dose and thus are not fully vaccinated, even if they recover after a COVID-19 diagnosis, they must still receive the second dose. Upon receiving a recovery certificate, they can use it as a vaccine pass, but its validity is limited to 180 days.

Regarding whether individuals with breakthrough infections will be exempt from additional booster shots such as the fourth or fifth doses, the CDCH’s position is that ‘a definitive answer cannot be given yet.’ Hong Jung-ik, head of the vaccination management team, explained, “If research shows that two primary doses plus one infection provide immunity comparable to that of the fourth or fifth doses, then vaccination may not be necessary. However, currently, such studies do not exist.”

Meanwhile, according to the CDCH, as of the 16th of this month, 212,459 individuals who completed the second dose and 11,780 individuals who completed the third dose experienced breakthrough infections.

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