Omicron-Targeted Vaccine Available for Vaccination Starting Next Month

Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, explains the vaccination plan for Moderna 2 vaccine developed to respond to the Omicron variant during the regular COVID-19 briefing held at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Cheongju, Chungbuk, on the morning of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Vaccinations with the updated vaccine developed to respond to the COVID-19 Omicron variant will begin next month.

Baek Kyung-ran, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), stated on the morning of the 21st, "We have established a winter vaccination plan by maximizing the use of vaccines developed for the prevailing variants," adding, "The additional COVID-19 winter vaccinations conducted in October will start with vulnerable health groups, with reservations and same-day vaccinations beginning on the 11th." She revealed the implementation plan for the winter additional vaccinations using the bivalent vaccine.

Accordingly, the main vaccine for this vaccination is expected to be Moderna's bivalent vaccine 'Moderna Spikevax bivalent 2-dose' (ingredient names Elasomeran, Imelasomeran), which was conditionally approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 8th. This vaccine was developed as a bivalent vaccine 'mRNA-1273.214' by combining the original COVID-19 virus Wuhan-targeting vaccine 'Spikevax (mRNA-1273)' with 'mRNA-1273.529,' developed to target the Omicron BA.1 variant. Baek said, "The initial supply of Moderna's BA.1-based bivalent vaccine has been arriving since the 15th and will be used first for vaccinations."

On the 17th, officials at Incheon International Airport Cargo Terminal are transferring the Moderna bivalent vaccine that arrived that day to transport vehicles. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Reservations for the bivalent vaccine additional vaccinations will begin on the 27th, with same-day and reserved vaccinations starting from the 11th of next month. Priority vaccination targets include workers and residents in infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and facilities, mental health promotion facilities, facilities for the disabled and homeless, immunocompromised individuals, and elderly people aged 60 and above. People in their 50s, those with underlying conditions, and healthcare workers are the second priority, while healthy adults aged 18 to 49 are the third priority. Baek added, "We plan to quickly expand the vaccination targets considering vaccine supply and quarantine situations," and "We will announce the vaccination plan for these groups as soon as possible."

Additionally, Pfizer's BA.1-based bivalent vaccine will also be introduced promptly. Vaccination with these messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines is expected to be primarily recommended. For those contraindicated or advised to delay mRNA vaccine vaccination, or those who do not wish to receive mRNA vaccines, protein subunit vaccines such as Novavax or SK Bioscience's 'Skycovione,' or the existing monovalent mRNA vaccines targeting the original Wuhan strain, are also available.

Baek stated that "We are also preparing for the safe and prompt introduction of bivalent vaccines based on the additional Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5," and added, "We will provide updates on the progress regularly."

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