Low Vaccination Rate... Jeong Gi-seok Says "Nothing Beats Vaccination"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] Jeong Gi-seok, head of the COVID-19 Special Response Team and member of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, emphasized on the 7th regarding the COVID-19 resurgence this winter, "There is nothing better than vaccination to reduce the overall scale of the outbreak."

At a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office that morning, Jeong stated, "The vaccine reservation rate is very low. Local government quarantine authorities must actively encourage local residents to get vaccinated during the winter season."

He explained, "Looking at those aged 60 and over, the combined number of people with natural immunity (immunity formed through COVID-19 infection) and artificial immunity (immunity formed through vaccination) is about 4.5 million," adding, "This accounts for only 35% of the high-risk group aged 60 and above, so the remaining 65% will be at a significant disadvantage in terms of immunity if they do not receive the vaccine this winter season."

Jeong cited the examples of Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do, which have the highest winter vaccination rates nationwide, saying, "In Jeonju City, Jeollabuk-do, community leaders make one-on-one guidance calls, staff at community centers visit local senior welfare centers, and actively provide convenience support such as proxy vaccine reservations." He continued, "Other local governments are also encouraged to devise methods suited to their regional characteristics to continuously promote vaccination," adding, "We hope the government will actively develop various ways to further expand winter vaccination."

Jeong pointed out that vaccine reservation and vaccination rates are low in infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and stressed the importance of protecting oneself through vaccination. Nationwide, there are about 14,000 infection-vulnerable facilities, but winter vaccination reservation and vaccination rates stand at only 6.6% and 5.0%, respectively. He said, "Compared to the very high vaccination rate during the 4th dose, the current rate is very low, which is concerning," and added, "In group living facilities, the density and enclosed environment are high, so if one person gets infected, it inevitably leads to a chain infection. The principle is to protect as many people as possible through vaccination."

Regarding the start of the Omicron variant BA.1-based bivalent vaccine vaccination for those aged 18 and over from today, Jeong said, "It is not much different from the flu vaccine. We recommend winter vaccination for all adults aged 18 and above." He explained, "The government has opened the door for everyone to receive the updated vaccine, especially for those with chronic diseases, those vulnerable to respiratory infections, high-risk family members living together, and those whose health is a major concern."

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