We Are Also Starting the 4th Vaccination... How Long Do We Need to Keep Getting It?

On the afternoon of the 14th, when the fourth dose vaccination began for immunocompromised individuals among those who completed the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, medical staff at a hospital in Seoul administered the Novavax vaccine. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has begun for high-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals and patients and workers in nursing hospitals and facilities. While some countries overseas have started administering the fourth dose to the entire population, the Korean government firmly states that a fourth dose for the general public is not currently under consideration.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 20th, the fourth dose vaccination began on the 14th for immunocompromised individuals and patients, residents, and workers in nursing hospitals and facilities. As of the 20th, a total of 688 people have completed the fourth dose.

Immunocompromised individuals aged 18 and over who have completed the third dose can receive the fourth dose with mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer or Moderna if four months (120 days) have passed since their third dose. Currently, same-day vaccination is only available, but from the 28th, pre-booked vaccinations will also be introduced.

The same vaccination criteria apply to patients, residents, and workers in nursing hospitals and facilities, but in cases of group infections or concerns about quarantine, the fourth dose can be administered three months (90 days) after the third dose. This is based on the recent sharp increase in group infections within nursing hospitals and facilities.

Overseas, most countries that have started the fourth dose also target high-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals or patients and residents in nursing hospitals, similar to Korea. The health authorities explain that in most countries, immunocompromised individuals do not achieve a high antibody formation rate with just two doses, so the third dose is considered an "(expanded) primary vaccination," and the fourth dose is recommended as a "booster shot" concept added to the third dose. Accordingly, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Singapore are administering the fourth dose only to immunocompromised individuals.

Some countries have started vaccinating the general public. However, most have set separate age restrictions and are proceeding mainly with the elderly. Israel is administering the fourth dose to those aged 60 and over, Chile to those aged 55 and over, and Germany is preparing for the fourth dose for the general public aged 70 and over.

Brazil, unlike the government policy limiting the fourth dose to immunocompromised individuals, has local governments that have gone a step further by announcing plans for a fourth dose for the entire population. The S?o Paulo state government announced that it will administer the fourth dose to all 46 million residents.

However, the Korean government draws a clear line, stating that there are no plans for a fourth dose for the general public. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said regarding the nationwide expansion of the fourth dose, "There is currently no consideration at all," adding, "There is also a view that continuously receiving vaccines does not help resistance to other diseases. We are not considering it at all."

Practical reviews are also close to not being conducted at this time. Kwon Geun-yong, head of the vaccination management team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Headquarters, said, "The fourth dose targets immunocompromised individuals and nursing hospitals and nursing facilities," and added, "We are not currently reviewing the fourth dose for the general elderly population."

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