Songpa-gu, Free COVID-19 Vaccination

Free Vaccination with New XBB Variant-Targeted Vaccine for All Residents Starts November 1
Proven Effectiveness and Safety... Can Be Administered Simultaneously with Influenza Vaccine and Completed in One Dose for Convenience

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that from November 1st to March 31st of next year, free COVID-19 vaccinations tailored to the new prevalent variant will be provided to all residents aged six months and older.

This vaccine is a new vaccine (XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine) developed to respond to the currently circulating variant (XBB lineage). The new vaccine has been proven effective and safe by producing more than 10 times the antibodies and having a 15% lower incidence of adverse reactions compared to previous vaccines.

Additionally, the vaccination process has become very simple. Individuals aged five and older can complete vaccination with a single dose regardless of their vaccination history, and it is possible to receive the flu (influenza) vaccine on the same day. Currently, the district is thoroughly working to prevent infectious diseases by providing free influenza vaccinations to seniors aged 65 and older, children aged six months to 13 years, pregnant women, and medically vulnerable groups.

Although COVID-19 was reclassified as a level 4 infectious disease like influenza in August, approximately 9,000 positive cases are still reported nationwide weekly. In preparation for the winter season when respiratory diseases are prevalent, the district began vaccinations for high-risk groups on October 19th and expanded the target to all residents starting November 1st.

From this vaccine rollout, not only high-risk infants and children but also general infants and children can receive the vaccine if they wish. However, infants aged six months to four years may require up to three doses depending on their vaccination history. Since Pfizer vaccines do not allow for cross-vaccination, if there is a history of Pfizer vaccination, the infant Pfizer vaccine will be available for administration in December.

Those wishing to be vaccinated can make an online reservation themselves or through a proxy and visit a nearby medical institution, or receive vaccination on the same day without a reservation. However, vaccination is only possible after three months (90 days) from the last vaccination date, so prior confirmation is necessary.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “Since immunity decreases during the winter season, reinfection rates increase even if there is a history of infection, so proactive vaccination is necessary.” He added, “We especially ask for active participation in vaccination to protect those with underlying conditions around us who are vulnerable to infectious diseases.”

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