Winter Vaccine Uptake at Low 3% Range... Health Authorities Urge Vaccination

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] As health authorities consider the current COVID-19 situation as the '7th wave,' the winter vaccination rate using the updated vaccine remains low. The authorities have urged people to get vaccinated, emphasizing that the updated vaccine developed to target the currently circulating variants significantly reduces severe illness, death, and infection.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) as of midnight on the 10th, the additional winter vaccination participation rate among the total population aged 18 and over is 3.1%. Among the priority group of those aged 60 and above, who have been eligible since last month, 9.3% have completed the additional vaccination, while the vaccination rate for those aged 18 to 59 remains at 0.3%. Particularly, the vaccination rate in infection-vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals and nursing homes is only 7.9% of the target population. For those aged 18 to 59, same-day vaccination using leftover vaccines was initially the only option, but from the 7th, pre-booked vaccinations were also included in the eligible groups.

This winter's additional vaccination uses bivalent updated vaccines developed to respond to the Omicron variant. The Moderna vaccine based on the Omicron subvariant BA.1 began last month, and Pfizer's BA.1 vaccine vaccinations started on the 7th. From the 14th, Pfizer's bivalent vaccine based on BA.4/5 will also begin to be administered.

Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "The 4th vaccination for infection-vulnerable facilities began in February this year, and the vaccine's effectiveness is expected to have significantly decreased over time." She added, "With the spread of new variants such as BA.1.1 and BF.7 and immune evasion, severe illness and death may increase, so not only residents and inpatients but also workers must get vaccinated and participate."

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