South Korea's Vaccination Rate at 0.1%, Lowest Among G6 Countries... First Dose Higher Than Japan's

On the 16th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, seniors aged 75 and older are receiving the Pfizer vaccine at the vaccination center set up in Yongsan Art Hall, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] South Korea's COVID-19 vaccination rate is significantly lower compared to six major countries including Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom, but the number of cases and deaths is reported to be the lowest.

On the 16th, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the 15th, a comparative analysis of COVID-19 cases and vaccination status in six major countries including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, and Japan showed these results.

South Korea's COVID-19 vaccination completion rate was 0.1%, the lowest among the six major countries.

The country with the highest vaccination completion rate was Israel, where more than half of the population, 57.3%, had completed vaccination. The order was the United States (22.9%), the United Kingdom (12.0%), Germany (6.2%), Japan (0.5%), and South Korea (0.1%).

The rate of receiving at least one dose was 2.5% in South Korea, ahead of Japan (0.9%).

The rate of at least one dose vaccination was Israel (61.7%), the United Kingdom (47.6%), the United States (37.1%), Germany (16.8%), South Korea (2.5%), and Japan (0.9%).

The number of cases and deaths was significantly lower in South Korea.

South Korea recorded a cumulative incidence of 2,162.4 cases per one million people and a weekly incidence of 87.2 cases, which is much lower compared to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, and relatively lower even compared to Japan.

South Korea's cumulative death rate per one million people was 34.5, the lowest among the compared countries.

The death rates per one million people in each country were the United Kingdom 1,876.4, the United States 1,705.1, Germany 947.8, Israel 725.5, and Japan 73.9.

The health authorities stated, "The low number of cases and deaths is the result of the active participation of the entire population in quarantine policies and the dedicated efforts of the medical community and related personnel," adding, "We plan to continue expanding vaccination while maintaining the current low incidence."