Health Authorities, "COVID-19 Primary Responders... Vaccination Starting as Early as the 7th"

First Quarter Vaccination Targets Likely to Complete First Dose Within This Month
"Careful Review of AZ Vaccination for Those Aged 65 and Over"
Some Janitors Contacting Confirmed Cases Also Added to Vaccination List

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The government announced that it will begin vaccinating first responders to COVID-19 as early as the 7th of this month.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 1st, "We are currently finalizing the list of eligible first responders for COVID-19 vaccination," adding, "We plan to finalize the list in the first week of March and prepare the vaccine delivery plan by the 6th, with deliveries scheduled accordingly." She further explained, "Depending on the vaccination readiness of local public health centers, vaccinations for first responders could start as early as the 7th of this month."

The AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, which was the first to be approved domestically, has been administered since the 26th of last month to workers and residents under 65 years old at nursing hospitals and facilities. This month, first doses are scheduled for healthcare workers at high-risk medical institutions, 119 emergency medical teams, epidemiological investigators, and other first responders on the front lines of disease control. Some first responders have already received vaccinations using leftover vaccine doses.

Director Jung stated, "At present, we believe that all first doses for nursing hospital and facility workers, high-risk medical institution staff, and first responders scheduled for vaccination in February and March this year will be completed within this month."

The health authorities also announced that the detailed distribution plan for additional AstraZeneca vaccines to be introduced domestically through the international vaccine supply facility 'COVAX facility' is in the final stages.

Director Jung explained, "Although we have not yet been notified of the exact final quantity and timing, we are continuing discussions with COVAX," adding, "We will select detailed vaccination targets based on the additional AstraZeneca vaccine quantities secured and finalize them after review by the Vaccination Expert Committee." She also noted that vaccination of those aged 65 and older with the AstraZeneca vaccine is being carefully reviewed based on overseas vaccination data.

Director Jung said, "Recently, Scotland announced that AstraZeneca vaccination significantly reduced hospitalization rates and severe cases among the elderly," adding, "We plan to continuously collect such evidence and consult with the Vaccination Expert Committee to carefully reconsider whether to vaccinate the elderly."

Meanwhile, health authorities expect that medical staff at COVID-19 treatment hospitals who began receiving the Pfizer vaccine on the 27th of last month will complete their second doses within this month. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses administered three weeks apart. Director Jung said, "Those who received the Pfizer vaccine at the beginning of this month are expected to complete their second dose by the last week of this month," adding, "The expected number of people will be determined after reviewing the number of vaccination targets."

Additionally, the government announced that, beyond medical staff, other workers who come into contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients will be vaccinated within 10% of the total personnel. On the first day of Pfizer vaccine administration, the 27th of last month, a cleaning worker working in a patient ward at the National Medical Center’s Central Vaccination Center was the first to be vaccinated.

Director Jung stated, "Not only medical staff managing confirmed patients but also cleaning workers are at risk of exposure to the virus during their work, which is why they were selected as the first recipients," adding, "Other workers besides medical staff at COVID-19 treatment hospitals and residential treatment centers also need vaccination." She continued, "We have notified that these individuals will be added to the list of eligible recipients within 10% of the total, and hospitals are currently selecting them," adding, "Once vaccine supply stabilizes, we will establish plans to ensure that workers exposed to such risks are vaccinated promptly."