Vaccination Rate with Updated Vaccine at 26.2% for Those Aged 60 and Over... Far Below Government Target

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] As the winter resurgence of COVID-19 continues, participation in winter vaccination remains insufficient.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the 15th, the cumulative vaccination rate during the winter season was 26.2% for those aged 60 and over, and 42.3% for residents of infection-vulnerable facilities. These figures still fall short of the government’s target of 50% for those aged 60 and over and 60% for residents of infection-vulnerable facilities during the winter intensive vaccination period. The government initially operated the winter intensive vaccination period from the 21st of last month and planned to end it on the 18th of this month, but extended it by two more weeks until the 31st. Recently, the eligible vaccination group was expanded from those aged 18 and over to adolescents aged 12 and over.

In the past week, among the average daily hospitalized severe and critical patients and deaths, those aged 60 and over accounted for 392 (88.3%) and 47 (92.2%), respectively, representing the majority. The health authorities stated, "According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the group that received the bivalent vaccine as an additional dose showed 28?56% higher infection prevention effectiveness compared to the group that only received the original vaccine. Additionally, a study conducted by the UK Health Security Agency confirmed that the group receiving the bivalent vaccine as an additional dose had 57% higher infection prevention effectiveness," urging people to get vaccinated.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency held a joint meeting from the 12th to the 16th, hosted by five regional disease response centers, with health directors from 17 cities and provinces and vaccination officers from local health centers to discuss measures to enhance additional winter vaccinations. The 1339 call center for COVID-19 vaccination reservations will be closed as of the 31st of this month. The reservation call center, which has been operating since May 2021 to assist elderly people and others unfamiliar with online reservations, will be terminated due to a sharp decline in reservations made through the call center this year. From next year, those wishing to get vaccinated can check the availability of leftover vaccines online or call medical institutions before getting vaccinated.

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