Starting Today, Concentrated Vaccination with Updated Vaccines... "Who Must Get Vaccinated?"

Health Authorities Aim to Increase Vaccination Rate to 50% for Seniors Aged 60 and Over
Vaccination Also Recommended for Adults in Their 50s and Those with Underlying Conditions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government will enter the 'Winter Intensive Vaccination Period' starting from the 21st to increase the COVID-19 vaccination rate among the elderly aged 60 and over and residents of infection-vulnerable facilities. Residents of nursing hospitals and nursing facilities must complete the updated vaccine vaccination to be allowed to go out or stay overnight outside.

According to the quarantine authorities on the 21st, the government aims to raise the vaccination rate of the elderly aged 60 and over to 50% and the vaccination rate of infection-vulnerable facilities to 60% during this intensive vaccination period. It is considered essential for the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, nursing hospital and facility residents, and workers in mental health promotion facilities to receive additional vaccinations.

This is because, with the recent resurgence of COVID-19 and the increase in confirmed cases, severe cases and deaths among the elderly are rapidly rising. In the second week of this month (November 6?12), 88.3% of daily average severe cases and 95.2% of deaths were among those aged 60 and over, indicating that COVID-19 infection is fatal for the elderly.

On the other hand, as of midnight on the 18th, the winter additional vaccine vaccination rate for the domestic population aged 60 and over was only 12.4%, and only 16.0% compared to the target population aged 60 and over, highlighting the need for rapid vaccination expansion.

Vaccination with the updated vaccine is also recommended for middle-aged adults aged 50 and over, people with underlying diseases, healthcare workers working in hospitals, military personnel, and those in group facilities such as correctional institutions. Middle-aged adults are at an age when various chronic diseases begin, and in group facilities, even one confirmed case can quickly lead to a cluster infection, so special caution is necessary.

Among adults aged 18 and over who have completed the basic vaccination, it is also advisable to receive vaccination if more than four months (120 days) have passed since the last vaccination or confirmation date. During the recent COVID-19 resurgence, reinfection rates have remained at about 10%, so people who have never been infected with COVID-19 are more likely to be confirmed positive.

Professor Kim Tak of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital explained, "In Korea, the proportion of people who have not yet been infected is still high, so it is essential for those who have never been infected to receive the updated vaccine. Not only for their own health but also because infecting high-risk groups such as parents is a bigger problem, it is recommended that young people also get vaccinated if possible."

Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center emphasized, "There has been considerable vaccine fatigue among the public, so it is not easy to drive nationwide vaccination. However, considering that the peak of the outbreak is expected in early December and that immunity rises about two weeks after vaccination, it is crucial to complete vaccination as soon as possible for high-risk groups, especially residents and workers in infection-vulnerable facilities."

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