"After Completing a Full 6 Months"... Citizens Postponing 'Nth Dose' Vaccination Due to Anxiety

Government "Decision on 4th Dose for Immunocompromised to be Announced on the 14th"
Citizens "Are We Going to Have 'Nth Dose' at This Rate?" Express Anxiety

A citizen is receiving a vaccine at the vaccination center set up in Sadang Sports Complex, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] # Jeong, a man in his 30s who works at an office, recently canceled his reservation for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. He had planned to get a booster shot three months after completing his second dose due to the spread of Omicron. However, Jeong postponed the vaccination, thinking he might soon have to get a fourth dose as well. He confessed, "Since I often work outside the office, I intended to get the booster shot right after three months from the second dose for both my sake and others'. But the thought that I might have to get another shot made me hesitant, so I decided to delay the third dose as much as possible." He added, "I'm worried because I've seen many cases of vaccine side effects, but I think I'll have to get the booster shot anyway because of the vaccine pass."

While the government is considering a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for immunocompromised individuals, some citizens are delaying their booster shots as much as possible. The health authorities currently recommend a three-month interval between the second dose and the booster shot. However, citizens say that since the vaccine pass (proof of vaccination or negative test) is valid for six months, they will observe the situation during this period before deciding whether to get vaccinated. Some are hesitant to get the third dose due to concerns about 'nth doses' and are reluctant to proceed with the third vaccination.

On the 11th, posts asking about the timing of booster shots have been continuously appearing on online communities and social networking services (SNS). One netizen, who identified themselves as a parent of an elementary school student, said on a mom caf?, "When should I get the booster shot? I suffered side effects from the second dose, so I was determined not to get the booster. But I decided to get it after all, fearing that my children might get infected because of me." They added, "It will be four months since my second dose at the end of this month. Is it okay to get the booster shot now?"

In response to the post, netizens commented, "It's better to get it slowly. Given the current situation, I think the fourth dose will come soon," and "I think we have no choice but to get it because of the vaccine pass, but since it's already been three months, wouldn't it be better to complete the vaccine pass period?"

On the morning of the 10th, citizens are waiting for testing at the Seoul Plaza screening clinic. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The reason citizens are delaying their booster shots seems related to concerns about additional vaccinations. As the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs, the possibility of fourth and fifth doses cannot be ruled out. Ultimately, the burden of having to keep getting vaccinated is growing, so people want to wait until the vaccine pass validity period of 180 days (six months) is almost over before getting vaccinated. Online, there have been sarcastic posts about 'nth doses,' referring to the third dose as the 'booster shot,' the fourth as the 'final shot,' the fifth as the 'finish shot,' the sixth as the 'the end shot,' and the seventh as the 'lucky shot.'

Amid this, concerns have grown as the government is reportedly considering a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose. The health authorities plan to announce the fourth dose plan for immunocompromised individuals on the 14th.

Ko Jaeyoung, head of the Crisis Communication Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (spokesperson for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), said at an online briefing for reporters on the 8th, "We are currently evaluating the necessity of the fourth dose by assessing immunity and vaccine effectiveness together and are reviewing it."

He added, "The fourth dose for immunocompromised individuals will be announced after deliberation by the Vaccination Expert Committee. It is not finalized yet, but we plan to announce it next Monday (the 14th)."

On the 10th, as the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 50,000 for the first time ever, continuing to set daily records, citizens lined up in a long queue at the temporary screening clinic in Seoul Plaza for testing. The photo is unrelated to any specific expressions in the article. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier, Jeong Eunkyung, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, also stated at the National Assembly on the 7th that for high-risk groups classified as immunocompromised and residents of nursing hospitals and facilities, "They received the third dose in October-November, and by March, it will be four months. We are considering administering the fourth dose after four months and plan to decide and inform soon."

Some even express the opinion of not getting the booster shot at all. Kwon, a 25-year-old job seeker who said he would not get the third dose, said, "I didn't want to get the first and second doses at all, but I got vaccinated because I was afraid of disadvantages when applying for jobs. I considered getting the booster shot since I had no side effects except muscle pain at that time. But after hearing that an acquaintance went to the emergency room due to the third dose, I decided not to get it."

He added, "There are many cases of breakthrough infections even after vaccination. I don't really understand the meaning of the vaccine."

Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) pointed out that repeatedly administering existing vaccines amid the emergence of new COVID-19 variants could burden people's immune systems.

Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccine strategy at EMA, expressed concern at a briefing on the 11th of last month (local time), saying, "Repeated vaccinations within a short interval are not a sustainable strategy." He warned, "Frequent booster shots can negatively affect the human immune system. While one or two additional doses are possible, continuous repetition should be avoided."

Regarding this, Kim Kinam, head of the Vaccination Management Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, said, "It's not so much a problem of the third or fourth dose but the concern that repeatedly getting nth doses at short intervals could burden the immune system. This is something that needs to be considered when planning future vaccination strategies."

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