AZ Vaccine Reservations for Ages 70-74, 11.5% Booked on First Day

On the morning of the 3rd, citizens are waiting to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the vaccination center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chunhee] Vaccine reservation for the 70-74 age group receiving the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine will begin on the 6th, ahead of vaccinations starting on the 27th, with a reservation rate of 11.5% on the first day.

As of midnight on the 7th, the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that out of a total of 2,137,000 people aged 70-74, 246,000 completed their reservations on the first day, the 6th. The reservation rate on the first day was 11.5%.

Among these, 128,000 reservations were made online, 95,000 via call centers, and 23,000 through public health centers and other channels.

To ensure smooth reservations, the Promotion Team has deployed over 4,000 consultation staff across the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, National Health Insurance Service, Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, and local government call centers to respond to reservation inquiries. However, in case of a surge in calls, temporary delays in connection may occur due to increased call volume. Therefore, to facilitate smooth reservations, they requested that guardians make reservations online on behalf of the elderly.

Vaccinations for this group will begin on the 27th, alongside chronic severe respiratory disease patients (12,000 people) and those aged 65-69 (2,838,000 people). Reservations for chronic severe respiratory disease patients also started on the 6th. Reservations for the 65-69 age group will begin on the 10th. All of these groups will receive the AZ vaccine.

Following that, on the 13th, vaccination reservations will start for 4,003,000 people aged 60-64, as well as 364,000 kindergarten, daycare, and elementary school grades 1-2 teachers and childcare workers. Vaccinations for this group will begin on the 7th of next month. They will also receive the AZ vaccine.

The eligible age groups were determined based on birth year. Those born between 1947 and 1951 are classified as 70-74 years old, those born between 1952 and 1956 as 65-69 years old, and those born between 1957 and 1961 as 60-64 years old. The Promotion Team explained that since calculating age by full age could change eligibility depending on the vaccination date, they set eligibility based on birth year.