Vaccination Expert Committee to Meet on the 10th... Decision on Vaccination for Those Aged 65 and Over (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] On the 10th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) will hold a Vaccination Expert Committee meeting to decide on the administration of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to the elderly population.

The KDCA announced on the 9th, "We plan to discuss the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine to those aged 65 and older through the Vaccination Expert Committee."

The government initially planned to prioritize the AstraZeneca vaccine for elderly residents in nursing hospitals and long-term care facilities in the first quarter, but the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety postponed vaccination for those aged 65 and older, citing a lack of clinical data for the elderly and recommending a "cautious decision."

However, recent results from the United Kingdom have shown that the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective in the elderly, and several European countries including Germany, Sweden, and Belgium have allowed vaccination for the elderly, leading to a shift in the atmosphere.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated at a briefing the previous day, "The Vaccination Expert Committee plans to decide whether to allow the AstraZeneca vaccine for the elderly."