COVID-19 First Line of Defense Surpasses '20% Vaccination Rate'... But 20% Vaccination Refusal Remains Key

On the 10th, when Janssen vaccine administration began for reservists aged 30 to under 60, civil defense personnel, and those related to defense and diplomacy, medical staff at Kim Internal Medicine Clinic in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are displaying the Janssen vaccine. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The first-dose vaccination rate for COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea has surpassed 20%. The "20% vaccination rate" is considered the minimum defense line that establishes a foundation to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, as of midnight on the 11th, 733,067 people received their first vaccine dose the previous day. As a result, a cumulative total of 10,565,404 people have completed their first dose. An additional 285,448 people completed their vaccination, bringing the total number of fully vaccinated individuals to 2,636,135. This includes 251,787 people who received the single-dose Janssen vaccine. The vaccination rate relative to the population stands at 20.6% for the first dose and 5.1% for full vaccination.

Professor Jung Jae-hoon of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Gachon University Gil Medical Center said, "If 20% of the total population is vaccinated, it is possible to prevent the spread of infection while maintaining the current quarantine system. However, it takes about a month for the effects of vaccination to appear."

Having crossed the first barrier, South Korea is now one step closer to achieving herd immunity by November. As the number of vaccinated individuals increases, the vaccination process is accelerating, and as long as supply proceeds without disruption, the speed of vaccination is no longer considered a problem. In fact, recently, voices demanding priority vaccination by industry and region have grown nationwide, and the authorities, who plan to announce the third-quarter vaccination plan next week, are currently deliberating on this matter.

However, a bigger issue lies with the opposing group of "vaccination refusers." To reach the ultimate goal of herd immunity, it is essential to persuade the undecided group to get vaccinated. According to a COVID-19 perception survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the end of last month, 69.2% of unvaccinated individuals responded that they would get vaccinated. Although the proportion of those willing to get vaccinated has been increasing recently, it still has not exceeded 70%.

Professor Jung emphasized, "The proportion of people who refuse vaccination is about 20% worldwide when looking at other countries. If we fail to persuade them, efforts to form herd immunity at an 80% vaccination rate will end, leaving some risks inevitably."

The age groups that the authorities are particularly monitoring among the third-quarter vaccination targets are people in their 20s and 30s. Unlike the elderly, the younger generation, who form the last puzzle piece of the nationwide vaccination blueprint, do not have significantly higher benefits from vaccination. For now, the government plans to encourage vaccination through various vaccine incentives.

Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to extend the current social distancing measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) for three more weeks starting from the 14th. The plan is to maintain the current quarantine level until July, when the target of over 13 million first-dose vaccinations is achieved and a new social distancing system is introduced, to manage the COVID-19 outbreak situation. Notably, considering the social distancing system revision next month, some quarantine rules for sports stadiums and performance venues have been partially eased.

At the meeting, Kwon Deok-cheol, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, stated in his opening remarks, "We will manage the quarantine situation steadily and prepare thoroughly for the July revision of the social distancing system. For cultural activities with low risk, such as sports games and performances, we will gradually expand the number of attendees on the condition that basic quarantine rules are followed."

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