COVID-19 Vaccine First Dose Inoculations Increase by 1,269...Sharp Decline Due to Weekend Effect

Total of 3,733,796 First Dose Recipients... 7.3% of the Entire Population

Elderly people waiting for vaccination at the COVID-19 Dongdaemun-gu Vaccination Center set up in a gymnasium in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 13th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The number of people receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea increased by about 1,000 in one day on the 15th.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Promotion Team) on the 16th, there were a total of 1,269 new first-dose vaccinations the previous day.

This is only about 13.3% of the 9,548 first-dose vaccinations on the 14th, the day before. This is interpreted as a result of the weekend effect, which reduced the number of vaccinations at nationwide entrusted medical institutions and vaccination centers, combined with a temporary imbalance in vaccine supply.

As of midnight that day, the total cumulative number of first-dose vaccinations in the country was 3,733,796, which is about 7.3% of the total population (51,349,116). The number of people who have completed both doses increased by 29,829 to a cumulative total of 935,357. This is about 1.8% of the domestic population.

The cumulative total number of vaccinations (doses) reflecting both first and second doses in the country is 4,669,153.

Among AstraZeneca vaccine recipients (2,646,675 people), 2,045,777 have completed the first dose, reaching a vaccination rate of 77.3%. The number of people who have completed the second dose increased by 240 to a total of 6,041.

For the Pfizer vaccine, 1,688,019 people, or 45.3% of the target group (3,728,899 people), have completed the first dose, and the number of people who have completed the second dose increased by 29,589 to a total of 929,316.

In South Korea, vaccinations are being carried out sequentially with two types of vaccines: AstraZeneca and Pfizer, both of which require two doses.

Starting from the 27th, the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be administered to the elderly aged 65 to 74. From the 7th of next month, vaccinations will also be conducted for the elderly aged 60 to 64, patients with chronic severe respiratory diseases, and teachers of kindergarten, daycare centers, and lower grades (1st to 2nd grade) of elementary school aged 30 and above.