Authorities: "After July, when vaccination for the elderly is completed, deaths will hardly occur" (Update)

Vaccine Effectiveness Proven in Cluster Infection... Infected Patients Are Unvaccinated

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] The government expects a significant decrease in domestic deaths in July, when COVID-19 vaccinations for the elderly are completed.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the regular briefing of the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 19th, "We expect a significant reduction in overall deaths in July, following the completion of vaccinations for the elderly at the end of June."

Son added, "After July, deaths are expected to occur only among elderly individuals who have not been vaccinated."

Theoretically, since 95% of current deaths occur among the elderly, if all elderly people who need to be vaccinated receive the vaccine, deaths among the elderly will almost cease after July.

Son further explained, "If that is possible, we expect to manage COVID-19 as a much less risky infectious disease that no longer causes deaths."

According to authorities, about half of the vaccine-eligible population, totaling 4.75 million people, have made vaccination reservations so far. The reservation rate for those aged 70-74, which began on the 6th, is 62.4%; for those aged 65-69, which started on the 10th of last month, it is 54.7%; and for those aged 60-64, which began on the 13th of last month, it is 38.8%.

COVID-19 Vaccination Reservation Rates Lowest in Daegu and Gyeongbuk

There is some regional variation in reservation rates. Daejeon-Chungcheong, Gwangju-Honam, and Gangwon regions have rates exceeding 50%, while the metropolitan area, Busan-Gyeongnam, and Jeju are in the high 40% range. However, Daegu is at 38% and Gyeongbuk at 45%, which are somewhat lower.

Son emphasized, "Vaccination is essential to free ourselves from the threat of the COVID-19 virus and to regain our daily lives. The effectiveness of vaccination is clear, and this effect has recently been proven in many cluster infections."

Recently, a cluster infection of 12 people occurred at a nursing hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Among 347 staff and residents, none of the 203 who received the AstraZeneca vaccine were infected, and all infected patients were unvaccinated.

In Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, among a family of seven, six were infected, but the one family member who was not infected was an elderly person who had been vaccinated first.

Last month, among 23 attendees at a church service in Goesan-gun, Chungbuk, only one vaccinated person was not infected, while 22 unvaccinated individuals were infected.

Son concluded, "To protect all of us from COVID-19, especially to safeguard the lives of our parents and elderly and the safety of our families, vaccines are absolutely necessary in addition to masks. I ask all citizens to trust the power of science and actively participate in vaccination."