The government recommends additional vaccinations... Growing skepticism about the '4th dose' amid easing of COVID-19 restrictions

COVID-19 Fourth Dose Vaccination Rate 3.8% Among Seniors 60+... Reservation Rate 13.8%
Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom Urges "Seniors 60+ to Participate in Fourth Dose"

Citizens visiting the vaccination center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are receiving their vaccines. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for the elderly aged 60 and over is in full swing, skeptical reactions toward vaccination are emerging among the target group. Since they are receiving the same vaccine four times within a year and trust in the vaccine has declined, there are questions about whether additional vaccination is really necessary. The quarantine authorities are continuously emphasizing additional vaccination due to concerns about the high severe illness and mortality rates among the elderly.

On the 21st, the quarantine authorities urged additional vaccination, stating that the number of elderly people aged 60 and over infected with COVID-19 reaches 20,000 per day.

Ko Jaeyoung, Crisis Communication Team Leader of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "One out of five recent confirmed cases is an elderly person, and nearly 20,000 people were infected today as well," adding, "We especially urge seniors in their 70s and 80s or older, who have a high fatality rate, to prevent avoidable deaths through vaccination."

According to the authorities, the proportion of those aged 60 and over, who accounted for 15% of all confirmed cases in the first week of last month, has increased for seven consecutive weeks, reaching about 21% in the second week of this month.

Additionally, 85% of recent critically ill patients and 95% of deaths are concentrated in the 60 and over age group, and since more than six out of ten deaths are among those aged 80 and over, the authorities emphasize the need to prevent severe illness and death through additional vaccination.

However, since the peak of the outbreak has already passed and the momentum for vaccination has declined, it seems difficult to increase the vaccination rate. The authorities previously assessed on the 14th that the COVID-19 outbreak peak had completely passed. However, even then, they urged the fourth dose vaccination, expressing concern about infections among the elderly with waning immunity.

Medical staff are busy handling Pfizer vaccines at the COVID-19 vaccine storage center in the Yongsan-gu Vaccination Center, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

Meanwhile, with the abolition of the vaccine pass (proof of vaccination or negative test) and the effective end of social distancing measures since the 18th, some opinions suggest that the necessity of vaccination is not strongly felt.

Mr. Kang, in his 60s and unvaccinated with the third dose, said, "With confirmed cases drastically decreasing, I question whether it is necessary to get vaccinated," adding, "I also cannot trust the effectiveness of the vaccine. Aren't there many people infected with COVID-19 even after vaccination?"

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, as of today, a total of 520,332 people (3.8%) aged 60 and over have completed the fourth dose. About 1.89 million people participated in the pre-reservation for the elderly starting from the 18th, with a reservation rate of 13.8%.

Regarding this, overseas studies have shown that additional vaccination is necessary as it has been confirmed to prevent infection, severe illness, and death.

A study from Israel, which first started the fourth dose, showed that four weeks after the fourth dose, the risk of infection was reduced by half and the risk of severe illness was reduced by 3.5 times compared to the third dose. The infection prevention effect was confirmed for eight weeks, and the severe illness prevention effect for six weeks. Currently, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France are also administering the fourth dose to high-risk groups including the elderly.

Meanwhile, the government continues to emphasize vaccination for the elderly. On the 22nd, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office, "The risk of infection does not disappear just because regulations have been lifted," adding, "To close the gaps in quarantine caused by lifting regulations, compliance with quarantine rules and meticulous voluntary infection prevention efforts must be supported."

He continued, "Elderly people aged 60 and over who passed four months after the third vaccination should participate in the expanded fourth dose vaccination starting next week for those who have made reservations," emphasizing, "Especially seniors aged 80 and over, who have a high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, should actively participate in vaccination."

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