Skycovione Vaccination Coverage Expanded to 3rd and 4th Doses... Reservations Open from the 19th (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The vaccination scope of Skycovione, the first domestically produced vaccine, will be expanded to include the 3rd and 4th booster doses.

Lee Ki-il, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), stated in his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 16th, "The vaccination scope of the Skycovione vaccine will be expanded from the 1st and 2nd doses to include the 3rd and 4th doses."

SK Bioscience's Skycovione began on-site vaccinations for the 1st and 2nd primary doses starting from the 5th. From the 19th, advance reservations will begin to allow its use for the 3rd and 4th booster doses as well.

At the meeting, this year's fall and winter influenza response plan and the progress of the pilot project for sickness benefits were also discussed. The government will start influenza vaccinations for children aged 6 months to under 9 years old from the 21st, and from October, vaccinations will be expanded to pregnant women and the elderly. Lee, the Chief Coordinator, said, "Vaccinations will be supported for 12.16 million high-risk groups, and health insurance will also cover antiviral prescriptions," adding, "We will monitor the epidemic situation through the infectious disease surveillance system and report related information on future occurrences."

Regarding the pilot project for sickness benefits, which began on July 4th, Lee said, "So far, a total of 240 people have benefited," noting that "mainly middle-aged people over 40, health insurance workplace subscribers, and those engaged in driving and cleaning work." He continued, "The sickness benefit system compensates income for those unable to work due to illness and helps establish a culture of 'rest when sick,' which can prevent group infections in workplaces, making it a win-win system," urging, "Six local governments should actively promote this to residents and workplaces."

The COVID-19 outbreak is expected to maintain a downward trend. Lee explained, "Today's confirmed cases are in the 50,000 range," and added, "Although there was a temporary increase due to the Chuseok holiday, the trend is now declining."

He emphasized, "The government has focused its quarantine capabilities on infection-vulnerable facilities and high-risk groups where many confirmed cases occur, and as a result, the 6th wave of the outbreak has seen a noticeable decrease in confirmed cases and deaths compared to the 5th wave when social distancing was implemented." According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, the weekly average daily confirmed cases at the peak of the 5th and 6th waves decreased from the 400,000 range to the 120,000 range, and weekly deaths dropped from 1,957 to 414.

Lee said, "There is a possibility that COVID-19 and influenza will spread simultaneously this fall," urging, "Please prevent infections through mask-wearing, handwashing, and vaccination." He added, "As the COVID-19 outbreak gradually calms down, we will also prepare better plans for the recovery of daily life in advance."

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